AND HIS
MOTOR BOAT
VICTOR
University of California • Berkeley
DONALD SIDNEY-FRYER
COLLECTION
WITH A SWIRI, o* THE SCREW THE ARROW SHOT our
THE WAY, CARRYING THE AERONAUT WITH HER.
ft* Swift •** hit M*t+r **+*
TOM SWIFT AND
HIS MOTOR-BOAT
BY
VICTOR APPLETON
01 "TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE," "TOM SWIFT AND
SHIP," "TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT," ETC.
ILLUSTRATED
NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS
Made in the United States of America
BOOKS BY VICTOR APPLETON
THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE
Or Fun and Adventure on the Road
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
Or the Rivals of Lake Carlopa
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
Or the Stirring Cruise of the Red Cloud
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
Or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure*
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
Or the Speediest Car on the Road
(Other Volumes in preparation)
lame. Cloth. Illustrated
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
COPYRIGHT, 1910, BY
GROSSET & DUNLAP
Tom Swift and His Motor-Boat
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAG»
I A MOTOR-BOAT AUCTION I
II SOME LIVELY BIDDING 12
III A TIMELY WARNING 24
IV TOM AND ANDY CLASH 32
V A TEST OF SPEED 38
VI TOWING SOME GIRLS 52
VII A BRUSH WITH ANDY 60
VIII OFF ON A TRIP 68
IX MR. SWIFT is ALARMED 78
X A CRY FOR HELP 87
XI A QUICK RUN 94
XII SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS 103
XIII TOM IN DANGER in
XIV THE ARROW DISAPPEARS 118
XV A DAMAGING STATEMENT 125
XVI STILL ON THE SEARCH 135
XVII "THERE SHE is!" 141
XVIII THE PURSUIT 153
XIX A QUIET CRUISE 159
XX NEWS OF A ROBBERY i6/
ui
'CONTENTS
CHAPTER
XXI THE BALLOON ON FIRE ...................... J73
XXII THE RESCUE ................................ 179
XXIII PLANS FOR AN AIRSHIP ..................... 189
XXIV THE MYSTERY SOLVED ....................... 198
XXV WINNING A RACE .......................... • 206
TOM SWIFT AND HIS
MOTOR-BOAT
CHAPTER I
A MOTOR-BOAT AUCTION
"WHERE are you going, Tom?" asked Mr.
Barton Swift of his son as the young man was
slowly pushing his motor-cycle out of the yard
toward the country road. "You look as though
you had some object in view."
"So I have, dad. I'm going over to Lanton.*
"ToLanton? What for?"
"I want to have a look at that motor-boat."
"Which boat is that, Tom ? I don't recall your
speaking about a boat over at Lanton. What do
you want to look at it for ?"
"It's the motor-boat those fellows had who
tried to get away with your turbine model inven-
tion, dad. The one they used at the old General
Harkness mansion, in.the woods near the lake, and
the same boat that fellow used when he got away
from me the day I was chasing him here/'
i
2 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Oh, yes, I remember now. But what is the
boat doing over at Lanton >"
"That's where it belongs. It's the property of
Mr. Bently Hastings. The thieves stole it from
him, and when they ran away from the old man-
sion, the time Mr. Damon and I raided the place,
they left the boat on the lake. I turned it over to
the county authorities, and they found out it be-
longed to Mr. Hastings. He has it back now, but
I understand it's somewhat damaged, and he
wants to get rid of it. He's going to sell it at
auction to-day, and I thought I'd go over and take
a look at it. You see "
"Yes, I see, Tom," exclaimed Mr. Swift with
a laugh. "I see what you're aiming at. You
want a motor-boat, and you're going all around
Robin Hood's barn to get at it."
"No, dad, I only "
"Oh, I know you, Tom, my lad!" interrupted
the inventor, shaking his finger at his son, who
seemed somewhat confused. "You have a nice
rowing skiff and a sailboat, yet you are hanker-
ing for a motor-boat. Come now, own up. Aren't
you?"
"Well, dad, a motor-boat certainly would go
fine on Lake Carlopa. There's plenty of room to
speed her, and I wonder there aren't more of them.
I was going to see what Mr. Hastings' boat would
A MOTOR-BOAT AUCTION 3
sell for, but I didn't exactly think of buying it
Still •"
"But you wouldn't buy a damaged boat, would
you?"
"It isn't much damaged," and in his eagerness
the young inventor (for Tom Swift had taken
out several patents) stood his motor-cycle up
against the fence and came closer to his father.
"It's only slightly damaged," he went on. "I can
easily fix it. I looked it all over before I gave it
in charge of the authorities, and it's certainly a
fine boat. It's worth nine hundred dollars — or it
was when it was new."
"That's a good deal of money for a boat," and
Mr. Swift looked serious, for though he was well
off, he was inclined to be conservative.
"Oh, I shouldn't think of paying that much.
In fact, dad, I really had no idea of bidding at
the auction. I only thought I'd go over and get
an idea of what the boat might sell for. Perhaps
some day "
Tom paused. Since his father had begun to
question him some new plans had come into the
lad's head. He looked at his parent and saw a
smile beginning to work around the corners of
Mr. Swift's lips. There was also a humorous
look in the eyes of the older inventor. He under-
4 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
stood boys fairly well, even if he only had one,
and he knew Tom perfectly.
"Would you really like to make a bid on that
boat, Tom?" he asked.
"Would I, dad? Well " The youth did
not finish, but his father knew what he meant.
"I suppose a motor-boat would be a nice thing
to have on Lake Carfopa," went on Mr. Swift
musingly. "You and I could take frequent trips
in it. It isn't like a motor-cycle, only useful for
one. What do you suppose the boat will go for,
Tom?"
"I hardly know. Not a higH price, I believe,
for motor-boats are so new on our lake that few
persons will take a chance on them. But if Mr.
Hastings is getting another, he will not be so par-
ticular about insisting on a high price for the old
one. Then, too, the fact that it is damaged will
help to keep the price down, though I know I can
easily put it in good shape. I would like to make
a bid, if you think it's all right."
"Well, I guess you may, Tom, if you really
want it. You have money of your own and a
motor-boat is not a bad investment. What do you
think ought to be the limit ?"
"Would you consider a hundred and fifty dol-
lars too high ?"
Mr. Swift looked at Tom critically. He was
A MOTOR-BOAT AUCTION 5
plainly going over several matters in his mind,
and not the least of them was the pluck his son
had shown in getting back some valuable papers
and a model from a gang of thieves. The lad
:ertainly was entitled to some reward, and to al-
low him to get a boat might properly be part of it.
"I think you could safely go as high as two
hundred dollars, Tom," said Mr. Swift at length.
"That would be my limit on a damaged boat, for
it might be better to pay a little more and get a
new one. However, use your own judgment,
but don't go over two hundred. So the thieves
who made so much trouble for me stole that boat
from Mr. Hastings, eh?"
"Yes, and they didn't take much care of it
either. They damaged the engine, but the hull is
in good shape. I'm ever so glad you'll let me bid
on it. I'll start right off. The auction is at ten
o'clock and I haven't more than time to get there."
"Now be careful how you bid. Don't raise your
own figures, as I've sometimes seen women and
men, too, do in their excitement. Somebody may
go over your head, and if he does, let them. If
you get the boat I'll be very glad on your account.
But don't bring any of Anson Morse's gang back
in it with you. I've seen enough of them."
"I'll not, dad!" cried Tom as he trundled his
motor-cycle out of the gate and into the country
6 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
road that led to the village of Shop ton, where he
lived, and to Lanton, where the auction was to be
held. The young inventor had not gone far be-
fore he turned back, leaving his machine standing
on the side path.
"What's the matter?" asked his father, who
had started toward one of several machine shops
on the premises — shops where Mr. Swift and his
son did inventive work.
"Guess I'd better get a blank check and some
money," replied Tom as he entered the house.
"I'll need to pay a deposit if I secure the boat."
"That's so. Well, good luck," and with his
mind busy on a plan for a new kind of storage
battery, the inventor went on to his workroom.
Tom got some cash and his check book from a
small safe he owned and was soon speeding over
the road to Lanton, his motor-cycle making quite
a cloud of dust. While he is thus hurrying along
to the auction I will tell you something about him.
Tom Swift, son of Barton Swift, lived with his
father and a motherly housekeeper, Mrs. Baggert,
in a large house on the outskirts of the town of
Shopton, in New York State. Mr. Swift had
acquired considerable wealth from his many in-
ventions and patents, but he did not give up work-
ing out his ideas simply because he had plenty of
A MOTOR-BOAT AUCTION 7
money. Tom followed in the footsteps of his
parent and had already taken out several patents.
Shortly before this story opens the youth had
become possessed of a motor-cycle in a peculiar
fashion. As told in the first volume of this series,
entitled "Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle," Tom
was riding to the town of Mansburg on an errand
for his father one day when he was nearly run
down by a motor cyclist. A little later the same
motor cyclist, who was a Mr. Wakefield Damon,
of Waterfield, collided with a tree near Tom's
home and was severely cut and bruised, the ma-
chine being broken. Tom and his father cared for
the injured rider, and Mr. Damon, who was an
eccentric individual, was so disheartened by his at-
tempts to ride the motor-cycle that he sold it to
Tom for fifty dollars, though it had cost much
more.
About the same time that Tom bought the
motor-cycle a firm of rascally lawyers, Smeak &
Katch by name, had, in conjunction with several
men, made an attempt to get control of an in-
vention of a turbine motor perfected by Mr. Swift.
The men, who were Ferguson Appleson, Anson
Morse, Wilson Featherton, alias Simpson, and
Jake Burke, alias Happy Harry, who sometimes
disguised himself as a tramp, tried several times
to steal the model.
8 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
Their anxiety to get it was due to the fact that
they had invested a large sum in a turbine motor
invented by another man, but their motor would
not work and they sought to steal Mr. Swift's.
Tom was sent to Albany on his motor-cycle to
deliver the model and some valuable papers to Mr.
Crawford, of the law firm of Reid & Crawford,
of Washington, attorneys for Mr. Swift. Mr.
Crawford had an errand in Albany and had
agreed to meet Tom there with the model.
But, on the way, Tom was attacked by the gang
of unscrupulous men and the model was stolen.
He was assaulted and carried far away in an
automobile. In an attempt to capture the gang
in a deserted mansion, in the woods on the shore
of Lake Carlopa, Tom was aided by Mr. Damon,
of whom he had purchased the motor-cycle. The
men escaped, however, and nothing could be done
to punish them.
Tom was thinking of the exciting scenes he
had passed through about a month previous as
he spun along the road leading to Lanton.
"I hope I don't meet Happy Harry or any of
his gang to-day," mused the lad as he turned on
a little more power to enable his machine to mount
a hill. "I don't believe they'll attend the auction,
though. It would be too risky for them."
As Tom swung along at a rapid pace he heard,
A MOTOR-BOAT AUCTION $
behind him, the puffing; of an automobile, with the
muffler cut out. He turned and cast a hasty
glance behind.
"I hope that ain't Andy Foger or any of his
cronies/' he said to himself. "He might try to
run me down just for spite. He generally rushes
along with the muffler open so as to attract atten-
tion and make folks think he has a racing car."
It was not Andy, however, as Tom saw a little
later, as a man passed him in a big touring car.
Andy Foger, as my readers will recollect, was a
red-haired, squinty-eyed lad with plenty of money
and not much else. He and his cronies, including
Sam Snedecker, nearly ran Tom down one day,
when the latter was on his bicycle, as told in the
first volume of this series. Andy had been off on
a tour with his chums during the time when Tom
was having such strenuous adventures and had
recently returned.
"If I can only get that boat," mused Tom as
he swung back into the middle of the road after
the auto had passed him, "I certainly will have
lots of fun. I'll make a week's tour of Lake
Carlopa and take dad and Ned Newton with me."
Ned was Tom's most particular chum, but as
young Newton was employed in the Shopton
bank, the lad did not have much time for pleasure.
Lake Carlopa was a large body of water., and it
10 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
would take a moderately powered boat several
days to make a complete circuit of the shore, so
cut up into bays and inlets was it.
In about an hour Tom was at Lanton, and as
he neared the home of Mr. Hastings, which was
on the shore of the lake, he saw quite a throng
going down toward the boathouse.
"There'll be some lively bidding," thought
Tom as he got off his machine and pushed it
ahead of him through the drive and down toward
the river. "I hope they don't go above two hun-
dred dollars, though."
"Get out the way there !" called a sudden voice,
and looking back, Tom saw that an automobile
had crept up silently behind him. In it were Andy
Foger and Sam Snedecker. "Why don't you get
out the way ?" petulantly demanded the red-haired
lad.
"Because I don't choose to," replied Tom
calmly, knowing that Andy would never dare to
speed up his machine on the slope leading down
to the lake.
"Go ahead, bump him!" the young inventor
heard Sam whisper^
"You'd better try it, if you want to get the best
trouncing you ever had !" cried Tom hotly.
"Hu ! I s'pose you think you're going to bid on
the boat ?" sneered Andy.
A MOTOR-BOAT AUCTION n
"Is there any law against it ?" asked Tom.
"Hu! Well, you'll not get it. I'm going to
take that boat," retorted the squint-eyed bully.
"Dad gave me the money to get it"
"All right," answered Tom non-committally.
"Go ahead. It's a free country."
He stood his motor-cycle up against a tree and
went toward a group of persons who were sur-
rounding the auctioneer. The time had arrived to
start the sale. As Tom edged in closer he brushed
against a man who looked at him sharply. The
lad was just wondering if he had ever seen the
individual before, as there seemed to be something
strangely familiar about him, when the man
turned quickly away, as if afraid of being recog-
nized.
"That's odd," thought Tom, but he had no fur-
ther time for speculation, as the auctioneer was
mounting on a soap box and had begun to ad-
dress the gathering.
CHAPTER II
SOME LIVELY BIDDING
"ATTENTION, people!" cried the auctioneer.
"Give me your attention for a few minutes, and
We will proceed with the business in hand. As
you all know, I am about to dispose of a fine
motor-boat, the property of Mr. Bently Hastings.
The reason for disposing of it at auction is known
to most of you, but for the benefit of those who
do not, I will briefly state them. The boat was
stolen by a gang of thieves and recovered recently
through the efforts of a young man, Thomas
Swift, son of Barton Swift, our fellow-townsman,
of Shopton." At that moment the auctioneer,
Jacob Wood, caught sight of Tom in the press,
and, looking directly at the lad, continued :
"I understand that young Mr. Swift is here
to-day, and I hope he intends to bid on this boat.
If he does, the bidding will be lively, for Tom
Swift is a lively young man. I wish I could say
that sorrtf of the men who stole the boat were here
to-day."
12
SOME LIVELY BIDDING 13
The auctioneer paused and there were some
murmurs from those in the throng as to why such
a wish should be uttered. Tom felt some one
moving near him, and, looking around, he saw the
same man with whom he had come in contact
before. The person seemed desirous of getting
out on the edge of the crowd, and Tom felt a re-
turn of his vague suspicions. He looked closely
at the fellow, but could trace no resemblance to
any of the men who had so daringly stolen his
father's model.
"The reason I wisK they were here to-day/'
went on Mr. Wood, "is that the men did some
slight damage to the boat, and! if they were here
to-day we would make them pay for it. However,
the damage is slight and can easily be repaired.
I mention that as Mr. Hastings desired me to.
Now we will proceed with the bidding, and I will
say that an opportunity will first be given all to
examine the boat. Perhaps Tom Swift will give
us his opinion on the state it is in, as we know he
is well qualified to talk about machinery."
All eyes were turned on Tom, for many knew
him.
"Humph ! I guess I know as much about boats
and motors as he does," sneered Andy Foger.
"He isn't the only one in this crowd ! Why didn't
the auctioneer ask me ?"
14 TOM SWIFT 'AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Keep quiet," begged Sam Snedecker. "Peo-
ple are laughing at you, Andy."
"I don't care if they are," muttered the sandy-
haired youth. "Tom Swift needn't think he's
everything."
"If you will come down to the dock," went on
the auctioneer, "you can all see the boat, and I
would be glad to have young Mr. Swift give us
the benefit of his advice."
The throng trooped down to the lake, and,
blushing somewhat, Tom told what was the mat-
ter with the motor and how it could be fixed. It
was noticed that there was less enthusiasm over
the matter than there had been, for certainly the
engine, rusty and out of order as it was, did not
present an attractive sight Tom noted that the
man who had acted so strangely did not come
down to the dock.
"Guess he can't be much interested in the mo-
tor," decided Tom.
"Now then, if it's all the same to you folks,
I'll proceed with the auction here," went on Mr.
tWood. "You can all see the boat from here. It
is, as you see, a regular family launch and will
carry twelve persons comfortably. With a canopy
fitted to it a person could cruise all about the lake
and stay out over night, for you could sleep on
the seat cushions. It is twenty-one feet in length
SOME LIVELY BIDDING 15
and has a five-and-a-half-foot beam, the design
being what is known as a compromise stern. The
motor is a double-cylinder two-cycle one, of ten
horse-power. It has a float-feed carburetor, me-
chanical oiler, and the ignition system is the jump-
spark — the best for this style of motor. The boat
will make ten miles an hour, with twelve in, and,
of course, more than that with a lighter load. A
good deal will depend on the way the motor is
managed.
"Now, as you know, Mr. Hastings wishes to
dispose of the boat partly because he does not
wish to repair it and partly because he has a
newer and larger one. The craft, which is named
Carlopa by the way, cost originally nine hundred
dollars. It could not be purchased new to-day, in
many places, for a thousand. Now what am I
offered in its present condition? Will any one
make an offer? Will you give me five hundred
dollars ?'
The auctioneer paused and looked critically at
the throng. Several persons smiled. Tom looked
worried. He had no idea that the price would
start so high.
"Well, perhaps that is a bit stiff/' went on Mr.
Wood. "Shall we say four hundred dollars?
Come now, I'm sure it's worth four hundred.
Who'll start it at four hundred?"
16 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
No one would, and the auctioneer descended to
three hundred, then to two and finally, as if im-
patient, he called out :
"Well, will any one start at fifty dollars?"
Instantly there were several cries of "I will !"
• "I thought you would," went on the auctioneer.
"Now we will get down to work. I'm offered
fifty dollars for this twenty-one foot, ten horse-
power family launch. Will any one make it
sixty?"
"Sixty!" called out Andy Foger in a shrill
voice. Several turned to look at him.
"I didn't know he was going to bid," thought
Tonx "He may go above me. He's got plenty
of money, and, while I have too, I'm not going
to pay too much for a damaged boat."
"Sixty I'm bid, sixty—sixty !" cried Mr. Wood
in a sing-song tone, "who'll make it seventy ?"
"Sixty-five!" spoke a quiet voice at Tom's el-
bow, and he turned to see the mysterious man
who had joined the crowd at the edge of the lake.
"Sixty-five from the gentleman in the white
straw hat !" called Mr. Wood with a smile at his
wit, for there were many men wearing white
straw hats, the day being a warm one in June.
"Here, who's bidding above me?" exclaimed
Andy, as if it was against the law.
"I guess you'll find a number going ahead o#
SOME LIVELY BIDDING 17
you, my young friend," remarked the auctioneer.
"Will you have the goodness not to interrupt me,
except when you want to bid ?"
"Well, I offered sixty/' said the squint-eyed
bully, while his crony, Sam Snedecker, was vainly
pulling at his sleeve.
"I know you did, and this gentleman went
above you. If you want to bid more you can do
so. I'm offered sixty-five, sixty-five I'm offered
for this boat. Will any one make it seventy-five ?"
Mr. Wood looked at Tom, and our hero, think-
ing it was time for him to make a bid, offered
seventy.
"Seventy from Tom Swift !" cried the auction-
eer. "There is a lad who knows a motor-boat
from stem to stern, if those are the right words.
I don't know much about boats except what I'm
told, but Tom Swift does. Now, if he bids, you
people ought to know that it's all right I'm bid
seventy — seventy I'm bid. Will any one make it
eighty?"
"Eighty !" exclaimed Andy Foger after a whis-
pered conference with Sam. "I know as much
about boats as Tom Swift. I'll make it eighty."
"No side remarks. I'll do most of the talking.
You just bid, young man/' remarked Mr. Wood.
"I have eighty bid for this boat — eighty dollars.
Why, my friends, I can't understand this. I
\8 TOM SWIFT 'AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
ought to have it up to three hundred dollars, at
least. But I thank you all the same. We are
coming on. I'm bid eighty "
"Ninety!" exclaimed the quiet man at Tom's
slbow. He was continually fingering his upper
lip, as though he had a mustache there, but his
face was clean-shaven. He looked around ner-
vously as he spoke.
"Ninety !" called out the auctioneer.
"Ninety-five!" returned Tom. Anrly Foger
scowled at him, but the young investor only
smiled. It was evident that the bully did not relish
being bid against. He and his crony whispered
together again.
"One hundred !" called Andy, as if no one would
dare go above that.
"I'm offered an even hundred," resumed Mr.
[Wood. "We are certainly coming on. A hun-
dred I am bid, a hundred — a hundred — & hun-
dred "
"And five," said the strange man hastily, and
he seemed to choke as he uttered the words.
4 "Oh, come now ; we ought to have at least ten-
dollar bids from now on," suggested Mr. Wood.
"Won't you make it a hundred and ten?" The
auctioneer looked directly at the man, who seemed
to shrink back into the crowd. He shook his head -
SOME LIVELY BIDDING 19
cast a sort of despairing look at the boat and hur-
ried away.
"That's queer," murmured Tom. "I guess that
was his limit, yet if he wanted the boat badly that
wasn't a high price."
"Who's going ahead of me?" demanded Andy
in loud tones.
"Keep quiet!" urged Sam. "We may get it
yet"
"Yes, don't make so many remarks," counseled
the auctioneer. "I'm bid a hundred and five.
Will any one make it a hundred and twenty-five ?"
Tom wondered why the man had not remained
to see if his bid was accepted, for no one raised it
at once, but he hurried off and did not look back.
Tom took a sudden resolve.
"A hundred and twenty-five !" he called out.
"That's what I like to hear," exclaimed Mr.
Wood. "Now we are doing business. A hundred
and twenty-five from Tom Swift. Will any one
offer me fifty?"
Andy and Sam seemed to be having some dis-
pute.
"Let's make him quit right now," suggested
Andy in a hoarse whisper.
"You can't," declared Sam.
"Yes, I can. I'll go up to my limit right now."
20 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"And some one will go above you — maybe Tom
will," was Sam's retort.
"I don't believe he can afford to," Andy came
back with. "I'm going to call his bluffs. I be-
lieve he's only bidding to make others think he
.wants it I don't believe he'll buy it."
Tom heard what was said, but did not reply.
iThe auctioneer was calling monotonously: "I'm
bid a hundred and twenty-five — twenty-five. Will
any one make it fifty?"
"A hundred and fifty !" sang out Andy, and all
eyes were directed toward him.
"Sixty!" said Tom quietly.
"Here, you — — " began the red-haired lad.
You "
"That will do!" exclaimed the auctioneer
sternly. "I am offered a hundred and sixty. Now
who will give me an advance? I want to get the
boat up to two hundred, and then the real bidding
will begin."
Tom's heart sank. He hoped it would be some
time before a two-hundred dollar offer would be
heard. As for Andy Foger, he was almost speech-
less with rage. He shook off the restraining arm
of Sam, and, worming his way to the front of the
throng, exclaimed:
"I'll give a hundred and seventy-five dollars for
that boat!"
SOME LIVELY BIDDING 21
"Good !" cried the auctioneer. "That's the way
to talk. I'm offered a hundred and seventy-five."
"Eighty," said Tom quietly, though his heart
was beating fast.
"Well, of all " began Andy, but Sam
Snedecker dragged him back.
"You haven't got any more money," said the
bully's crony. "Better stop now."
"I will not! I'm going home for more," de-
clared Andy. "I must have that boat."
"It will be sold when you get back," said Sam.
"Haven't you got any money you can lend
me?" inquired the squint-eyed one, scowling in
Tom's direction.
"No, not a bit. There, some one raised Tom's
bid."
At that moment a man in the crowd offered a
hundred and eighty-one dollars.
"Small amounts thankfully received," said Mr.
Wood with a laugh. Then the bidding became
lively, a number making one-dollar advances.
The price got up to one hundred and ninety-five
dollars and there it hung for several minutes, de-
spite the eloquence of Mr. Wood, who tried by all
his persuasive powers to get a substantial advance.
But every one seemed afraid to bid. As for the
young inventor, he was in a quandary. He could
only offer five dollars more, and, if he bid it in a
22 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
lump, some one might go to two hundred and five,
and he would not get the boat. He wished he had
secured permission from his father to go higher,
yet he knew that as a fair proposition two hun-
dred dollars was about all the motor-boat in its
present condition was worth, at least to him.
Then he made a sudden resolve. He thought he
might as well have the suspense over.
"Two hundred dollars!" he called boldly.
"I'm offered two hundred!" repeated Mr.
Wood. "That is something like it. Now who
will raise that?"
There was a moment of silence. Then the auc-
tioneer swung into an enthusiastic description of
the boat. He begged for an advance, but none
was made, though Tom's heart seemed in his
throat, so afraid was he that he would not get the
Carlopa.
"Two hundred — two hundred !" droned on Mr.
Wood. "I am offered two hundred. Will any of
you go any higher?" He paused a moment, and
Tom's heart beat harder than ever. "If not," re-
sumed the speaker, "I will declare the bidding
closed. Are you all done? Once — twice — three
times. Two hundred dollars. Going — going —
gone !" He clapped his hands. "The boat is sold
to Thomas Swift for two hundred dollars. If he'll
step up I'll take his money."
SOME LIVELY BIDDING 23
There was a laugh as Tom, blushingly, ad-
vanced. He passed Andy Foger, who had worked
his way over near him.
"You got the boat," sneered the bully, "and I
s'pose you think you got ahead of me."
, "Keep quiet !" begged Sam.
"I won't!" exclaimed Andy. "He outbid me
just out of spite, and I'll get even with him. You
see if I don't!"
Tom looked Andy Foger straight in the eyes,
but did not answer, and the red-haired youth
turned aside, followed by his crony, and started
toward his automobile.
"I congratulate you on your bargain," said Mr.
Wood as Tom proceeded to make out a check.
He gave little thought to the threat Andy Foger
had made, but the time was coming when he was
to remember it well.
CHAPTER III
A TIMELY WARNING
, are you satisfied with your bargain,
Tom?" asked Mr. Wood when the formalities
about transferring the ownership of the motor-
boat had been completed.
"Oh, yes, I calculated to pay just what I did/'
"I'm glad you're satisfied, for Mr. Hastings
told me to be sure the purchaser was satisfied
Here he comes now. I guess he wasn't at the
auction."
An elderly gentleman was approaching Mr.
Wood and Tom. Most of the throng was dispers-
ing, but the young inventor noticed that Andy;
Foger and Sam Snedecker stood to one side, re-
garding him closely.
"So you got my boat," remarked the former
owner of the craft. "I hope you will be able to
fix it up."
"Oh, I think I shall," answered the new owner
of the Carlopa. "If I can't, father will help me."
"Yes, you have an advantage there. Are you
24
A TIMELY WARNING 2$
going to keep the same name ?" and Mr. Hastings
seemed quite interested in what answer the lad
would make.
"I think not," replied Tom. "It's a good name,
but I want something that tells more what a fast
boat it is, for I'm going to make some changes
that will increase the speed."
"That's a good idea. Call it the Swift."
"Folks would say I was stuck up if I did that,"
retorted the youth quickly. "I think I shall call
it the Arrow. That's a good, short name,
and "
"It's certainly speedy," interrupted Mr. Hast-
ings. "Well now, since you're not going to use
the name Carlo pa, would you mind if I took it for
my new boat ? I have a fancy for it."
"Not in the least," said Tom. "Don't you want
the letters from each side of the bow to put on
your new craft ?"
"It's very kind of you to offer them, and, since
you will have no need for them, I'll be glad to take
them off."
"Come down to my boat," invited Tom, using
the word "my" with a proper pride, "and I'll take
off the brass letters. I have a screw driver in my
motor-cycle tool bag."
As the former and present owners of the Sfr-
row (which is the name by which I shall hereafter
26 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
designate Tom's motor-boat) walked down to-
ward the dock where it was moored the young in-
ventor gave a startled cry.
"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Hastings.
"That man ! See him at my motor-boat ?" cried
Tom. He pointed to the craft in the lake. A man
was in the cockpit and seemed to be doing some-
thing to the forward bulkhead, which closed off
the compartment holding the gasoline tank.
"Who is he?" asked Mr. Hastings, while Tom
started on a run toward the boat.
"I don't know. Some man who bid on the boat
at the auction, but who didn't go high enough,"
answered the lad. As he neared the craft the man
sprang out, ran along the lake shore for a short
distance and then disappeared amid the bushes*
which bordered the estate of Mr. Hastings. Tom
hurriedly entered the Arrow.
"Did he do any damage ?" asked Mr. Hastings.
"I guess he didn't have time," responded Tom.
"But he was tampering with the lock on the door
of the forward compartment. What's in there ?"
"Nothing but the gasoline tank. I keep the
bulkhead sliding door locked on general principles*
I can't imagine what the fellow would want to
open it for. There's nothing of value in there.
Perhaps he isn't right in his head. Was he a
tramp?"
A TIMELY WARNING 27
"No, he was well dressed, but he seemed very
nervous during the auction, as if he was disap-
pointed not to have secured the boat. Yet what
could he want in that compartment? Have you
the key to the lock, Mr. Hastings?"
"Yes, it belongs to you now, Mr. Swift," and
the former owner handed it to Tom, who quickly
unlocked the compartment. He slid back the
door and peered within, but all he saw was the big
galvanized tank.
"Nothing in there he could want," commented
the former owner of the craft.
"No," agreed Tom in a low voice. "I don't see
what he wanted to open the door for." But the
time was to come, and not far off, when Tom was
to discover quite a mystery connected with the for-
ward compartment of his boat, and the solution
of it was fated to bring him into no little danger.
"It certainly is odd," went on Mr. Hastings
when, after Tom had secured the screw driver
from his motor-cycle tool bag, he aided the lad
in removing the letters from the bow of the boat,
"Are you sure you don't know the man?"
"No, I never saw him before. At first I thought
his voice sounded like one of the members of the
Happy Harry gang, but when I looked squarely
at him I could not see a bit of resemblance. Be-
28 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
sides, that gang would not venture again into this
neighborhood."
"No, I imagine not. Perhaps he was only a
curious, meddlesome person. I have frequently
been bothered by such individuals. They want to
see all the working parts of an automobile or
motor-boat, and they don't care what damage they
do by investigating."
Tom did not reply, but he was pretty certain
that the man in question had more of an object
than mere curiosity in tampering with the boat.
However, he could discover no solution just then,
and he proceeded with the work of taking off the
letters.
"What are you going to do with your boat, now
that you have it ?" asked Mr. Hastings. "Can you
run it down to your dock in the condition in which
it is now ?"
"No, I shall have to go back home, get some
tools and fix up the motor. It will take half a
day, at least. I will come back this afternoon and
have the boat at my house by night. That is if I
may leave it at your dock here."
"Certainly, as long as you like."
The young inventor had many things to think
about as he rode toward home, and though he
was somewhat puzzled over the actions of the
stranger, he forgot about that in anticipating the
A TIMELY WARNING 39
pleasure he would have when the motor-boat was
in running order.
"I'll take dad off on a cruise about the lake," he
decided. "He needs a rest, for he's been working
hard and worrying over the theft of the turbine
motor model. I'll take Ned Newton for some
rides, too, and he can bring his camera along and
get a lot of pictures. Oh, I'll have some jolly
sport this summer !"
Tom was riding swiftly along a quiet country
road and was approaching a steep hill, which he
could not see until he was close to it, owing to a
sharp turn.
As he was about to swing around it and coast
swiftly down the steep declivity he was startled by
hearing a voice calling to him from the bushes at
the side of the road.
"Hold on, dar ! Hold on, Mistah Swift !" cried
a colored man, suddenly popping into view.
"Doan't go down dat hill."
"Why, it's Eradicate Sampson!" exclaimed
Tom, quickly shutting off the power and applying
the brakes. "What's the matter, Rad? Why.
shouldn't I go down that hill?"
"Beca'se, Mistah Swift, dere's a pow'ful mon-
strous tree trunk right across de road at a place
whar yo' cain't see it till yo' gits right on top ob it,
Ef yo' done hit dat ar tree on yo' lickity-split ma-
30 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
chine, yo' suah would land in kingdom come.
Doan't go down dat hill !"
Tom leaped off his machine and approached
the colored man. Eradicate Sampson did odd jobs
in the neighborhood of Shopton, and more than
once Tom had done him favors in repairing his
lawn mower or his wood-sawing machine. In
turn Eradicate had given Tom a valuable clew as
to the hiding place of the model thieves.
"How'd the log get across the road, Rad?"
asked Tom.
"I dunno, Mistah Swift. "I see it when I come
along wid mah mule, Boomerang, an' I tried t' git
it outer de way, but I couldn't. Den I left Boom-
erang an' mah wagon at de foot ob de hill an' I
come up heah t' git a long pole t' pry de log outer
de way. I didn't t'ink nobody would come along,
'case dis road ain't much trabeled."
"I took it for a short cut," said the lad. "Come
on, let's take a look at the log."
Leaving his machine at the top of the slope,
the young inventor accompanied the colored man
'down the hill. At the foot of it, well hidden from
sight of any one who might come riding down,
was a big log. It was all the way across the road.
"That never fell there," exclaimed Tom in some
excitement. "That never rolled off a load of logs,
A TIMELY WARNING 31
even if there had been one along, which there
wasn't. That log was put there !"
"Does yo' fink dat, Mistah Swift?" asked
Eradicate, his eyes getting big.
"1 certainly do, and, if you hadn't warned me, I
might have been killed."
"Oh, I heard yo' lickity-split machine chug-
chuggin' along when I were in de bushes, lookin*
for a pryin' pole, an' I hurried out to warn yo'.
I knowed I could leave Boomerang safe, 'case he's
asleep."
"I'm glad you did warn me," went on the
youth solemnly. Then, as he went closer to the
log, he uttered an exclamation.
"That has been dragged here by an automo-
bile!" he cried. "It's been done on purpose to
injure some one. Come on, Rad, let's see if we
can't find out who did it."
Something on the ground caught Tom's eye.
He stooped and picked up a nickle-plated wrench.
"This may come in handy as evidence/' he mur«
mured.
CHAPTER IV
TOM AND ANDY CLASH
EVEN a casual observer could have told that an
auto had had some part in dragging- the log to
the place where it blockaded the road. In the dust
were many marks of the big rubber tires and even
the imprint of a rope, which had been used to tow
the tree trunk.
"What fo' yo' t'ink any one put dat log dere?"
asked the colored man as he followed Tom.
Boomerang, the mule, so called because Eradicate
said you never could tell what he was going to do,
opened his eyes lazily and closed them again.
"I don't know why, Rad, unless they wanted to
wreck an automobile or a wagon. Maybe tramps
did it for spite/'
"Maybe some one done it to make yo' hab
trouble, Mistah Swift."
"No, I hardly think so. I don't know of any
one who would want to make trouble for me,
and how would they know I was coming this
way "
TOM AND ANDY CLASH 33
Tom suddenly checked himself. The memory
of the scene at the auction came back to him and
he recalled what Andy Foger had said about "get*
ting even."
"Which way did dat auto go?" resumed Eradi-
cate.
"It came from down the road," answered Tom,
not completing the sentence he had left unfinished.
"They dragged the log up to the foot of the hill
and left it. Then the auto went down this way."
It was comparatively easy, for a lad of such
sharp observation as was Tom, to trace the move-
ments of the vehicle,
"Den if it's down heah, maybe we cotch 'em,"
suggested the colored man.
The young inventor did not answer at once.
He was hurrying along, his eyes on the tell-tale
marks. He had proceeded some distance from
the place where the log was when he uttered a
cry. At the same moment he hurried from the
road toward a thick clump of bushes that were in
the ditch alongside of the highway. Reaching
them, he parted the leaves and called :
"Here's the auto, Rad!"
The colored man ran up, his eyes wider open
than ever. There, hidden amid the bushes, was
a large touring car.
"Whose am dat?" asked Eradicate.
34 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
Tom did not answer. He penetrated the under*
brush, noting where the broken branches had been
bent upright after the forced entrance of the
'car, the better to hide it. The young inventor was
seeking some clew to discover the owner of the
machine. To this end he climbed up in the ton-
neau and was looking about when some one burst
in through the screen of bushes and a voice cried :
"Here, you get out of my car !"
"Oh, is it your car, Andy Foger?" asked Tom
calmly as he recognized his squint-eyed rival. "I
was just beginning to think it was. Allow me to
return your wrench," and he held out the on^ he
had picked up near the log. "The next time ydu
drag trees across the road," went on the lad in
the tonneau, facing the angry and dismayed Andy,
"I'd advise you to post a notice at the top of the
hill, so persons riding down will not be injured."
"Notice — road — hill — logs !" stammered Andy,
turning red under his freckles.
"That's what I said," replied Tom coolly.
"I — I didn't have anything to do with putting a
log across any road," mumbled the bully. "I— *
I've been off toward the creek."
"Have you ?" asked Tom with a peculiar smile.
"I thought you might have been looking for the
wrench you dropped near the log. You should be
more careful and so should Sam Snedecker, who's
TOM AND ANDY CLASH 35
hiding outside the bushes," went on our hero, for
he had caught sight of the form of Andy's crony
"I — I told him not to do it !" exclaimed Sam as
he came from his hiding place.
"Shut, up !" exclaimed Andy desperately.
"Oh, I think I know your secret/' continued the
young inventor. "You wanted to get even with
me for outbidding you on the motor-boat. You
watched which road I took, and then, in your auto,
you came a shorter way, ahead of me. You hauled
the log across the foot of the hill, hoping, I sup-
pose, that my machine would be broken. But, let
me tell you, it was a risky trick. Not only might
I have been killed, but so would whoever else who
happened to drive down the slope over the log,
whether in a wagon or automobile. Fortunately
Eradicate discovered it in time and warned me.
I ought to have you arrested, but you're not worth
it. A good thrashing is what such sneaks as you
deserve !"
"You haven't got any evidence against us,"
sneered Andy confidently, his old bravado coming
back.
"I have all I want," replied Tom. "You needn't
worry. I'm not going to tell the police. But
you've got to do one thing or I'll make you sorry
you ever tried this trick. Eradicate will help me*
so don't think you're going to escape."
36 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"You get out of my automobile!" demanded
Andy. "I'll have you arrested if you don't."
"I'll get out because I'm ready to, but not on
account of your threats," retorted Mr, Swift's son.
"Here's your wrench. Now I want you and Sam
to start up this machine and haul that log out of
the way."
"S'pose I won't do it?" snapped Andy.
"Then I'll cause your arrest, besides thrashing
you into the bargain ! You can take your choice
of removing the log so travelers can pass or hav-
ing a good hiding, you and Sam. Eradicate, you
take Sam and I'll tackle Andy."
"Don't you dare touch me !" cried the bully, but
there was a whine in his tones.
"You let me alone or I'll tell my father!" added
Sam. "I — I didn't have nothin' to do with it, any-
how. I told Andy it would make trouble, but he
made me help him."
"Say, what's the matter with you?" demanded
Andy indignantly of his crony. "Do you want
"I wish I'd never come with you," went on
Sam, who was beginning to be frightened.
"Come now. Start up that machine and haul
the log out of the way," demanded Tom again.
"I won't do it !" retorted the red-haired lad im~
pudentJy.
TOM AND ANDY CLASH 37
"Yes, you will," insisted our hero, and he took
a step toward the bully. They were out of the
clump of bushes now and in the roadside ditch.
"You let me alone," almost screamed Andy, and
in his baffled rage he rushed at Tom, aiming a
blow.
The young inventor quickly stepped to one side9
and, as the bully passed him, Tom sent out a neat
left-hander. Andy Foger went down in a heap on
the grass.
CHAPTER V
A TEST OF SPEED
WHETHER Tom or Andy was the most sur-
prised at the happening would be hard to say. The
former had not meant to hit so hard and he cer-
tainly did not intend to knock the squint-eyed
youth down. The latter's fall was due, as much
as anything, to his senseless, rushing tactics and
to the fact that he slipped on the green grass.
The bully was up in a moment, however, but he
knew better than to try conclusions with Tom
again. Instead he stood out of reach and splut-
tered :
"You just wait, Tom Swift! You just wait!"
"Well, I'm waiting," responded the other
calmly.
"I'll get even with you," went on Andy. "Yoj
think you're smart because you got ahead of me,
but I'll get square !"
"Look here !" burst out the young inventor de-
terminedly, taking a step toward his antagonist,
at which Andy quickly retreated, "I don't want
38
A TEST OF SPEED 39
any more of that talk from you, Andy Foger.
That's twice you've made threats against me to-
day. You put that log across the road, and if you
try anything like it for your second attempt I'll
make you wish you hadn't. That applies to you,
too, Sam," he added, glancing at the other lad.
"I — I ain't goin' to do nothin'," declared Sam.
"I told Andy not to put that tree "
"Keep still, can't you!' shouted the bully.
"Come on. We'll get even with him, that's all,"
he muttered as he went back into the bushes where
the auto was. Andy cranked up and he and his
crony getting into the car were about to start off.
"Hold on!" cried Tom. "You'll take that log
from across the road or I'll have you arrested for
obstructing traffic, and that's a serious offense."
"I'm goin' to take it away!" growled Andy.
"Give a fellow a show, can't you?"
He cast an ugly look at Tom, but the latter only
smiled. It was no easy task for Sam and Andy to
pull the log out of the way, as they could hardly
lift it to slip the rope under. But they finally man-
aged it, and, by the power of the car, hauled it to
one side. Then they speed off.
"I 'clar t' gracious, dem young fellers am most
as mean an' contrary as mah mule Boomerang am
sometimes," observed Eradicate. "Only Boom-
erang ain't quite so mean as dat."
40 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"I should hope not, Rad," observed Tom. "I'm
ever so much obliged for your warning. I guess
I'll be getting home now. Come around next
week ; we have some work for you."
" 'Deed an' I will," replied the colored man.
"I'll come around an' eradicate all de dirt on yo'
place, Mistah Swift. Yais, sah, I's Eradicate by
name, and dat's my perfession — eradicatin' dirt.
Much obleeged, I'll call around. Giddap, Boom-
erang!"
The mule lazily flicked his ears, but did not stir,
and Tom, knowing that the process of arousing
the animal would take some time, hurried up the
hill to where he had left his motor-cycle. Eradi-
cate was still engaged on the task of trying to
arouse his steed to a sense of its duty when ths
young inventor flashed by on his way home.
"So you now own a broken motor-boat," ob-
served Mr. Swift when Tom had related the cir-
cumstances of the auction. "Well, now you have
it, what are you going to do with it ?"
"Fix it, first of all," replied his son. "It needs
considerable tinkering up, but nothing but what
I can do, if you'll help me."
"Of course I will. Do you think you can get
any speed out of it ?"
"Well, I'm not so anxious for speed. I want a
good, comfortable boat, and the Arrow will be
A TEST OF SPEED 41
that. I've named it, you see. I'm going back to
Lanton this afternoon, take some tools along, and
repair it so I can run the boat over to here. Then
I'll get at it and fix it up. I've got a plan for you,
dad."
"What is it?" asked the inventor, his rather
tired face lighting up with interest.
"I'm going to take you on a vacation trip."
"A vacation trip ?"
"Yes, you need a rest. You've been working
too hard over that gyroscope invention."
"Yes, Tom, I think I have," admitted Mr.
Swift. "But I am very much interested in it, and
I think I can get it to work. If I do it will make a
great difference in the control of aeroplanes. It
will make them more stable and able to fly in
almost any wind. But I certainly have puzzled
my brains over some features of it. However, I
don't quite see what you mean."
"You need a rest, dad," said Mr. Swift's son
kindly. "I want you to forget all about patents,
inventions, machinery and even the gyroscope for
a week or two. When I get my motor-boat in
shape I'm going to take you and Ned Newton up
the lake for a cruise. We can camp out, or, if we
had to, we could sleep in the boat. I'm going to
put a canopy on it and arrange some bunks. It
42 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
will do you good and perhaps new ideas for youf
gyroscope may come to you after a rest."
"Perhaps they will, Tom. I am certainly tired
enough to need a vacation. It's very kind of you
to think of me in connection with your boat. But
if you're going to get it this afternoon you'd better
start if you expect to get back by night. I think
Mrs. Baggert has dinner ready."
After the meal Tom selected a number of tools
from his own particular machine shop and carried
them down to the dock on the lake, where his two
small boats were tied.
"Aren't you going back on your motor-cycle ?"
asked his father.
"No, dad, I'm going to row over to Lanton,
and, if I can get the Arrow fixed, I'll tow my row-
boat back."
"Very well, then you won't be in any danger
from Andy Foger. I must speak to his father
about him."
"No, dad, don't," exclaimed the young inventor
quickly. "I can fight my own battles with Andy.
J don't fancy he will bother me again right away."
Tom found it more of a task than he had an-
ticipated to get the motor in shape to run the
Arrow back under her own power. The magneto
was out of order and the batteries needed renew-
ing, while the spark coil had short-circuited and
A TEST OF SPEED 43
took considerable time to adjust. But by using
some new dry cells, which Mr. Hastings gave him,
and cutting out the magneto, or small dynamo
which produces the spark that exploded the gaso-
line in the cylinders, Tom soon had a fine, "fat"
hot spark from the auxiliary ignition system.
Then, adjusting the timer and throttle on the
engine and seeing that the gasoline tank was filled,
the fed started up his motor. Mr. Hastings helped
him, but after a few turns of the fly-wheel there
were no explosions. Finally, after the carbure-
tor (which is the device where gasoline is mixed
with air to produce an explosive mixture) had
been adjusted, the motor started off as if it had
intended to do so all the while and was only taking
its time about it.
"The machine doesn't run as smooth as it ought
to," commented Mr. Hastings.
"No, it needs a thorough overhauling," agreed
the owner of the Arrow. "I'll get at it to-mor-
row," and with that he swung out into the lake,
towing his rowboat after him.
"A motor-boat of my own !" exulted Tom as he
twirled the steering-wheel and noted how readily
the craft answered her helm. "This is great !"
He steered down the lake and then, turning
around, went up it a mile or more before heading
44 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
for his own dock, as he wanted to see how the
engine behaved.
"With some changes and adjustments I can
make this a speedy boat/' thought Tom. "I'll get
right at it. I shouldn't wonder if I could make a
good showing against Mr. Hastings' new Carlopa,
though his boat's got four cylinders and mine has
but two."
The lad was proceeding leisurely along the lake
shore, near his home, with the motor throttled
down to test it at low speed, when he heard some
one shout. Looking toward the bank, Tom saw
a man waving his hands.
"I wonder what he wants ?" thought our hero as
he put the wheel over to send his craft to shore.
He heard a moment later, for the man on the
bank cried :
"I say, my young friend, do you know anything
about automobiles? Of course you do or you
wouldn't be running a motor-boat. Bless my very
existence, but I'm in trouble! My machine has
stopped on a lonely road and I can't seem to get it
started. I happened to hear your boat and I came
here to hail you. Bless my coat-pockets but I am
in trouble ! Can you help me ? Bless my soul and
gizzard!"
"Mr. Damon," exclaimed Tom, shutting off the
jK>wer, for he was now near shore. "Of course,
A TEST OF SPEED 45
I'll help you, Mr. Damon," for the young inventor
had recognized the eccentric man of whom he had
purchased the motor-cycle and who had helped
him in rounding up the thieves.
"Why, bless my shoe-laces, if it isn't Tom
Swift!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, who seemed very
fond of calling down blessings upon himself or
upon articles of his dress or person.
"Yes, I'm here," admitted Tom with a laugh.
"And in a motor-boat, too! Bless my pocket-
book, but did that run away with some one who
sold it to you cheap?"
"No, not exactly," and the lad explained how
he had come into possession of it. By this time
he was ashore and had tied the Arrow to an over-
hanging tree. Then Tom proceeded to where Mr.
Damon had left his stalled automobile. The ec-
centric man was wealthy and his physician had
instructed him to ride about in the car for his
health. Tom soon located the trouble. The car-
buretor had become clogged, and it was soon in
working order again.
"Well, now that you have a boat, I don't sup-
pose you will be riding about the country so
much," commented Mr. Damon as he got into his
car. "Bless my spark-plug! but if you ever get
over to Waterfield, where I live, come and see me.
It's handy to get to by water."
46 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"I'll come some day," promised the lad.
"Bless my hat band, but I hope so," went on
the eccentric individual as he prepared to start
his car.
Tom completed the remainder of the trip to his
boathouse without incident and his father came
down to the dock to see the motor-boat. He
agreed with his son that it was a bargain and that
it could easily be put in fine shape.
The youth spent all the next day and part of
the following working on the craft. He over-
hauled the ignition system, which was the jump-
spark style, cleaned the magneto and adjusted the
gasoline and compression taps so that they fitted
better. Then he readjusted the rudder lines, tight-
ening them on the steering-wheel, and looked over
the piping from the gasoline tank.
The tank was in the forward compartment, and,
upon inspecting this, the lad concluded to change
the plan by which the big galvanized iron box was
held in place. He took out the old wooden braces
and set them closer together, putting in a few
new ones.
"The tank will not vibrate so when I'm going at
full speed," he explained to his father.
"Is that where the strange man was tampering
with the lock the day of the auction?" asked Mr.
Swift.
A TEST OF SPEED 47
"Yes, but I don't see what he could want in this
compartment, do you, dad ?"
The inventor got into the boat and looked care-
fully into the rather dark space where the tank
fitted. He went over every inch of it, and, point-
ing to one of the thick wooden blocks that sup-
ported the tank, asked :
"Did you bore that hole in there, Tom ?"
"No, it was there before I touched the braces.
But it isn't a hole, or, rather, some one bored it
and stopped it up again. It doesn't weaken the
brace any."
"No, I suppose not. I was just wondering
whether that was one of the new blocks or an olcj
one."
"Oh, an old one. I'm going to paint them, too,
so in case the water leaks in or the gasoline leaks
out the wood won't be affected. A gasoline tank
should vibrate as little as possible, if you don't
want it to leak. I guess I'll paint the whole in-
terior of this compartment white, then I can see
away into the far corners of it."
"I think that's a good idea," commented Mr.
Swift.
It was four days after his purchase of the boat
before Tom was ready to make a long trip in it.
Up to that time he had gone on short spins not far
from the dock, in order to test the engine adjust-
48 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
ment. The lad found it was working very well,
but he decided with a new kind of spark plugs
for the two cylinders that he could get more speed
out of it. Finally the forward compartment was
painted, a general overhauling given the hull and
Tom was ready to put his boat to a good test.
"Come on, Ned," he said to his chum early one
evening after Mr. Swift had said he was too tired
to go out on a trial run. "We'll see what the
'Arrow will do now."
From the time Tom started up the motor it was
evident that the boat was going through the water
at a rapid rate. For a mile or more the two lads
speeded along, enjoying it hugely. Then Ned ex-
claimed :
"Something's coming behind us."
Tom turned his head and looked. Then he
called out :
"It's Mr. Hastings in his new Carlopa. I won-
der if he wants a race ?"
"Guess he'd have it all his own way," suggested
Ned.
"Oh, I don't know. I can get a little more speed
out of my boat."
Tom waited until the former owner of the
rArrow was up to him.
"Want a race?" asked Mr. Hastings good-
naturedly.
A TEST OF SPEED 49
"Sure!" agreed Tom, and he shoved the timer
ahead to produce quicker explosions.
The Arrow seemed to leap forward and for a
moment was ahead of the Carlo pa, but with a
motion of his hand to the spark lever Mr. Hast-
ings also increased his speed. For a moment the
two boats were on even terms and then the larger
and newer one forged ahead. Tom had expected
it, but he was a little disappointed.
"That's doing first rate," complimented Mr.
Hastings as he passed them. "Better than I was
ever able to make her do even when she was new,
Tom."
This made the present owner of the Arrow feel
somewhat consoled. He and Ned ran on for a
few miles, the Carlopa in the meanwhile disap-
pearing from view around a bend. Then Tom
and his chum turned around and made for the
Swift dock.
"She certainly is a dandy I" declared Ned. "I
wish I had one like it."
"Oh, I intend that you shall have plenty of rides
in this," went on his friend. "When you get your(
vacation, you and dad and I are going on a tour,"
and he explained his plan, which, it is needless to
say, met with Ned's hearty approval.
Just before going to bed, some hours later, Tom
decided to go down to the dock to make sure he
50 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
had shut off the gasoline cock leading from the
tank of his boat to the motor. It was a calm,
early summer night, with a new moon giving a
little light, and the lad went down to the lake in
his slippers. As he neared the boathouse he heard
a noise.
"Water rat," he murmured, "or maybe musk-
rats. I must set some traps."
As Tom entered the boathouse he started back
in alarm, for a bright light flashed up, almost in
his eyes.
"Who's here?" he cried, and at that mordent
some one sprang out of his motor-boat, scrambled
into a rowing craft which the youth could dimly
make out in front of the dock and began to pull
away quickly.
"Hold on there!" cried the young inventor.
"Who are you ? What do you want ? Come back
here!"
The person in the boat returned no answer.
With his heart doing beats over-time Tom lighted
a lantern and made a hasty examination of the
Arrow. It did not appear to have been harmed,
but a glance showed that the door of the gasoline
compartment had been unlocked and was open.
Tom jumped down into his craft.
"Some one has been at that compartment
again!" he murmured. "I wonder if it was the
A TEST OF SPEED 51
same man who acted so suspiciously at the auc-
tion? What can his object be, anyhow?"
The next moment he uttered an exclamation of
startled surprise and picked up something from
the bottom of the boat. It was a bunch of keys,
with a tag attached, bearing the owner's name.
"Andy Foger!" murmured Tom. "Sc this is
how he was trying to get even ! Maybe he started
to put a hole in the tank or in my boat"
CHAPTER VI
TOWING SOME GIRLS
WITH a sense of anger mingled with an appre-
hension lest some harm should have been done to
his craft, the owner of the Arrow went carefully
over it. He could find nothing wrong. The en-
gine was all right and all that appeared to have
been accomplished by the unbidden visitor was the
opening of the locked forward compartment.
That this had been done by one of the many keys
on Andy Foger's ring was evident.
"Now what could have been his object?" mused
Tom. "I should think if he wanted to put a hole
in the boat he would have done it amidships, where
the water would have a better chance to come in,
or perhaps he wanted to flood it with gasoline
and "
The idea of fire was in Tom's mind, and he did
not finish his half-completed thought.
'That may have been it," he resumed after a
hasty examination of the gasoline tank, to make
sure there were no leaks in it. "To get even with
52
TOWING SOME GIRLS 53
me for outbidding him on the boat, Andy may
have wanted to destroy the Arrow. Well, of all
the mean tricks, that's about the limit ! But wait
until I see him. I've got evidence against him,"
and Tom looked at the key ring. "I could almost
have him arrested for this."
Going outside the boathouse, Tom stood on the
edge of the dock and peered into the darkness.
He could hear the faint sound of some one row-
ing across the lake, but there was no light.
"He had one of those electric flash lanterns,"
decided Tom. "If I hadn't found his keys, I
might have thought it was Happy Harry instead
of Andy.
The young inventor went back into the house
after carefully locking the boat compartment and
detaching from the engine an electrical device,
without which the motor in the Arrow could not
be started.
"That will prevent them from running away
with my boat, anyhow," decided Tom. "And I'll
tell Garret Jackson to keep a sharp watch to-
night." Jackson was the engineer at Mr. Swift's
workshop.
Tom told his father of the happening and Mr.
Swift was properly indignant He wanted to go
at once to see Mr. Foger and complain of Andy's
act, but Tom counseled waiting.
54 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"I'll attend to Andy myself," said the young
inventor. "He's getting desperate, I guess, or he
wouldn't try to set the place on fire. But wait
until I show him these keys."
Bright and early the next morning the owner
of the motor-boat was down to the dock inspect-
ing it. The engineer, who had been on watch
part of the night, reported that there had been no
disturbance, and Tom found everything all right.
"I wonder if I'd better go over and accuse Andy
now or wait until I see him and spring this evi-
dence on him?" thought our hero. Then he de-
cided it would be better to wait. He took the
Arrow out after breakfast, his father going on a
short spin with him.
"But I must go back now and work on my
gyroscope invention," said Mr. Swift when about
two hours had been spent on the lake. "I am
making good progress with it."
"You need a vacation," decided Tom. "I'll be
ready to take you and Ned in about two weeks.
He will have two weeks off then and we'll have
some glorious times together."
That afternoon Tom put some new style spark
plugs in the cylinders of his motor and found that
he had considerably increased the revolutions of
the engine, due to a better explosion being ob*
tained. He also made some minor adjustments
TOWING SOME GIRLS 55
and the next day he went out alone for a long-
run.
Heading up the lake, Tom was soon in sight of
a popular excursion resort that was frequently
visited by church and Sunday-school organiza-
tions in the vicinity of Shopton. The lad saw a
number of rowing craft and a small motor-boat
circling around opposite the resort and remarked :
"There must be a picnic at the grove to-day.
Guess I'll run up and take a look."
The lad was soon in the midst of quite a flotilla
of rowboats, most of them manned by pretty girls
or in charge of boys who were giving sisters (their
own or some other chap's) a trip on the water.
Tom throttled his boat down to slow speed and
looked with pleasure on the pretty scene. His
boat attracted considerable attention, for motor
traft were not numerous on Lake Carlopa.
As our hero passed a boat, containing three
very pretty young ladies, Tom heard one of them
exclaim :
"There he is now ! That's Tom Swift/'
Something in the tones of the voice attracted
his attention. He turned and saw a brown-eyed
girl smiling at him. She bowed and asked, blush-
ing the while :
"Well, have you caught any more runaway
horses lately?"
56 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Runaway horses — why — what ? Oh, it's Miss
Nestor !" exclaimed the lad, recognizing the young
lady whose steed he had frightened one day when
he was on his bicycle. As told in the first volume
of this series, the horse had run away, being
alarmed at the flashing of Tom's wheel, and Miss
Mary Nestor, of Mansburg, was in grave danger.
"So you've given up the bicycle for the motor-
boat/' went on the young lady.
"Yes," replied Tom with a smile, shutting off
the power, "and I haven't had a chance to save
any girls since I've had it."
The two boats had drifted close together, and
Miss Nestor introduced her two companions to
Tom.
"Don't you want to come in and take a ride?*
he asked.
"Is it safe?" asked Jennie Haddon, one of the
trio.
"Of course it is, Jennie, or he wouldn't be out
in it," said Miss Nestor hastily. "Come on, let's
get in. I'm just dying for a motor-boat ride."
"What will we do with our boat ?" asked Katie
Carson.
"Oh, I can tow that," replied the youth. "Get
right in and I'll take you all around the lake."
"Not too far," stipulated the girl who had
figured in the runaway. "We must be back for
TOWING SOME GIRLS 57
luncti, which will be served in about an hour.
Our church and Sunday-school are having a
picnic."
"Maybe Mr. Swift will come and have some
lunch with us," suggested Miss Carson, blushing
prettily.
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure," an-
swered Tom, and then he laughed at his formal
reply, the girls joining in.
"We'd be glad to have you," added Miss Had-
<k>n. "Oh !" she suddenly screamed, "the boat's
tipping over!"
"Oh, no," Tom hastened to assure her, coming
to the side to help her in. "It just tilts a bit, with
the weight of so many on one side. It couldn't
capsize if it tried."
In another moment the three were in the roomy
cockpit and Tom had made the empty rowboat
fast to the stern. He was about to start up when
from another boat, containing two little girls and
two slightly larger boys, came a plaintive cry :
"Oh, mister, give us a ride !"
"Sure!" agreed Tom pleasantly. "Just fasten
your boat to the other rowboat and I'll tow you."
One of the boys did this, and then, with three
pretty girls as his companions in the Arrow and
towing the two boats, Tom started off.
The girls were very much interested in the craft
58 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
and asked all sorts of questions about how the
engine operated. Tom explained as clearly as he
could how the gasoline exploded in the cylinders,
about the electric spark and about the propeller.
Then, when he had finished, Miss Haddon re-
marked naively:
"Oh, Mr. Swift, you've explained it beauti-
fully, and I'm sure if our teacher in school made
things as clear as you have that I could get along
fine. I understand all about it, except I don't see
what makes the engine go."
"Oh," said Tom faintly, and he wondering
what would be the best remark to make under the
circumstances, when Miss Nestor created a diver-
sion by looking at her watch and exclaiming :
"Oh, girls, it's lunch time! We must go
ashore. Will you kindly put about, Mr. Swift — I
hope that is the proper term — and — land us — i»
that right?" and she looked archly at Tom.
"That's perfectly right/' he admitted with a
laugh and a glance into the girl's brown eyes.
"I'll put you ashore at once," and he headed for a
small dock.
"And come yourself to take lunch with us,"
added Miss Haddon.
"I'm afraid I might be in the way," stammered
Tom. "I — I have a pretty good appetite,
and "
TOWING SOME GIRLS 59
"I suppose you think that girls on c. picnic don't
take much lunch," finished Miss Nestor. "But I
assure you that we have plenty, and that you will
be very welcome," she added warmly.
"Yes, and I'd like to have him explain over
again how the engine works," went on Miss Had-
don. "I am so interested."
Tom helped the girls out, receiving their thanks
as well as those of the children in the second boat.
Bs& as he walked with the young ladies through
the grove the young inventor registered a mental
vow that he would steer clear of explaining again
how a gasoline engine worked.
"Now come right over this way to our xable,"
invited Miss Nestor. "I want you to meet papa
and mamma."
Tom followed her. As he stepped from behind
a clump of trees he saw, standing not far away, a
figure that seemed strangely familiar. A moment
later the figure turned and Tom saw Andy Foger
confronting him. At the sight of our hero the
bully turned red and walked quickly away, while
Tom's fingers touched the ring of keys in his
pocket.
CHAPTER VII
A BRUSH WITH ANDY
So UNEXPECTED was his encounter with Andy
that the young inventor hardly knew how to act,
especially since he was a guest of the young ladies,
Tom did not want to do or say anything to em-
barrasc them or make a scene, yet he did want to
have a talk, and a very serious talk, with Andy
Foger.
Miss Nestor must have noticed Tom's sudden
start at his glimpse of Andy, for she asked :
"Did you see some one you knew, Mr. Swift?"
"Yes," replied Tom, "I did— er— that is "
He paused in some confusion.
"Perhaps you'd like — that is prefer — to go with
them instead of taking lunch with girls who don't
know anything about engines?" she persisted.
"Oh, no indeed," Tom hastened to assure hen
"He — that is — the person I saw wouldn't care to
have me lunch with him," and the youth smiled
grimly.
60
A BRUSH WITH ANDY 6l
"Would you like to bring him over to our
table?" inquired Miss Carson. "We have plenty
for him."
"No, I think that would hardly do," continued
the lad, who tried not to smile at the picture of
the red-haired and squint-eyed Andy Foger mak-
ing one of a party with the girls. The young
ladies fortunately had not noticed the bully, who
was out of view by this time.
Tom was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Nestor,
who told him how glad they were to meet the
young man who had been instrumental in saving
their daughter from injury, if not death. Tom
was a bit embarrassed, but bore the praise as well
as he could, and he was very glad when a diver-
sion, in the shape of lunch, occurred.
After a meal on tables under the trees in the
grove Tom took the girls and some of their
friends out in his motor-boat again. They cov-
ered several miles around the lake before return-
ing to the picnic ground.
As Tom was starting toward home in his boat,
wondering what had become of Andy and trying
to think of a reason why the bully should attend
anything as "tame" as a church picnic, the object
of his thoughts came strolling through the trees
down to the shore of the lake. The moment he
saw Tom the red-haired lad started back, but the
62 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
young inventor, leaping out of his boat, called
out:
"Hold on there, Andy Foger, I want to see
you !" and there was menace in Tom's tone.
"But I don't want to see you!" retorted the
other sulkily. "I've got no use for you."
"No more have I for you," was Tom's quick
reply. "But I want to return you these keys.
You dropped them in my boat the other night
when you tried to set it afire. If I ever catch
you "
"My keys! Your boat! On fire!" gasped
Andy, 40 plainly astonished that Tom knew his
surprise was genuine.
"Yes, your keys. You were a little too quick
for me or I'd have caught you at it. The next
time you pick a lock don't leave your keys behind
you," and he held out the jingling ring.
Andy Foger advanced slowly. He took the
bunch of keys and looked at the tag.
"They are mine," he said slowly, as if there
was some doubt about it.
"Of course they are," declared Tom. "I found
them where you dropped them — in my boat."
"Do you mean over at the auction ?"
"No, I mean down in my boathouse, where you
sneaked in the other night and tried to do some
damage."
A BRUSH WITH ANDY 63
"The other night !" cried Andy. "I never was
near your boathouse any night and I never lost
my keys there! I lost these the day of the auc-
tion, on Mr. Hastings' ground, and I've been
looking for them ever since."
"Didn't you sneak in my boathouse the other
night and try to do some mischief? Didn't you
drop them then ?"
"No, I didn't," retorted Andy earnestly. "I lost
those keys at the auction, and I can prove it to
you. Look, I advertised for them in the weekly
Gazette"
The red-haired lad pulled a crumpled paper
from his pocket and showed Tom an advertise-
ment offering a reward of two dollars for a bunch
of keys on a ring, supposed to have been lost at
the auction on Mr. Hastings' grounds in Lanton.
The finder was to return them to Andy Foger.
"Does that look as if I lost the keys in your
boathouse?" demanded the bully sneeringly. "I
wouldn't have advertised them that way if I'd
been trying to keep my visit quiet. Besides, I can
prove that I was out of town several nights. I
was over to an entertainment in Mansburg one
night and I didn't get home until two o'clock in
the morning, because my machine broke down.
Ask Ned Newton. He saw me at the entertain-
ment,"
64 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
Andy's manner was so earnest that Tom could
not help believing him. Then there was the evi-
dence of the advertisement Clearly the squint-
eyed youth had not been the mysterious visitor to
the boathouse and had not unlocked the forward
compartment. But if it was not he, who could it
have been and how did the keys get there ? These
were questions which racked Tom's brain.
"You can ask Ned Newton," repeated Andy.
"He'll prove that I couldn't have been near your
place, if you don't believe me."
"Oh, I believe you all right/' answered Tom,
for there could be no doubting Andy's manner,
even though he and the young inventor were not
on good terms. "But how did your keys get in
my boat?"
"I don't know, unless you found them, kept
them and dropped them there," was the insolent
answer.
"You know better than that," exclaimed Tom,
"Well, I owe you a reward of two dollars for
giving them back to me," continued the bully
patronizingly. "Here it is," and he hauled out
some bills.
"I don't want your money!" fired back Tom.
"But I'd like to know who it was that was in my
boat."
"And I'd like to know who it was took my
A BRUSH WITH ANDY 65
keys," and Andy stuffed the money back in his
pocket. Tom did not answer. He was puzzling
over a queer matter and he wanted to be alone
and think. He turned aside from the red-haired
lad and walked toward his motor-boat.
"I'll give you a surprise in a few days," Andy
called after him, but Tom did not turn his head
nor did he inquire what the surprise might be.
Mr. Swift was somewhat puzzled when his son
related the outcome of the key incident. He
agreed with Tom that some one might have found
the ring and kept it, and that the same person
might have been the one whom Tom had surprised
in the boathouse.
"But it's idle to speculate on it," commented
the inventor. "Andy might have induced some of
his chums to act for him in harming your boat,
and the key advertisement might have been only
a ruse."
"I hardly think so," answered his son, shaking
his head. "It strikes me as being very curious,
and I'm going to see if I can't get at the bottom
Of it."
But a week or more passed and Tom had no
clew. In the meanwhile he was working away at
his motor-boat, installing several improvements.
One of these was a better pump, which circu-
lated the water around the cylinders, and another
66 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
was a new system of lubrication under forced
feed.
'This ought to give me a little more speed,"
reasoned Tom, who was not yet satisfied with his
craft. "Guess I'll take it out for a spin."
He was alone in the Arrow, taking a long
course up the lake when, as he passed a wooded
point that concealed from view a sort of bay, he
heard the puffing of another motor-boat.
"Maybe that's Mr. Hastings," thought Tom,
"If I raced with him now, I think the Arrow
could give a better account of herself.
The young inventor looked at the boat as it
came into view. It needed but a glance to show
that it was not the Carlopa. Then, as it came
nearer, Tom saw a familiar figure in it — a red-
haired, squint-eyed chap.
"Andy Foger!" exclaimed Tom. "He's got a
motor-boat ! This is the surprise he spoke of."
The boat was rapidly approaching him, and he
saw that it was painted a vivid red. Then he
could make out the name on the bow, Red Streak.
Andy was sending the craft toward him at a fast
rate.
"You needn't think you're the only one on this
lake who has a gasoline boat !" called Andy boast-
fully. "This is my new one and the fastest thing
A BRUSH WITH ANDY 67
afloat around here. I can go all around you. Do
you want to race?"
It was a "dare," and Tom never took such
things when he could reasonably enter a contest.
He swung his boat around so as to shoot along-
side of Andy and answered :
"Yes, I'll race you. Where to?"
"Down opposite Kolb's dock and back to this
point," was the answer. "I'll give you a start, as
my engine has three cylinders. This is a racing
boat."
"I don't need any start," declared Tom. "I'll
race you on even terms. Go ahead !"
Both lads adjusted their timers to get more
speed. The water began to curl away from the
sharp prows, the motors exploded faster and
faster. The race was on between the Arrow and
the Red Streak.
CHAPTER VIII
OFF ON A TRIP
GLANCING with critical eyes at the craft of his
rival, Tom saw that Andy Foger had a very fine
boat. The young inventor also realized that if he
was to come anywhere near winning the race he
would have to get the utmost speed out of his en-
gine, for the new boat the bully had was designed
primarily for racing, while Tom's was an all-
around pleasure craft, though capable of some-
thing in the speed line,
"I'll be giving you a tow in a few minutes, as
soon as my engine gets warmed up!" sneered
Andy.
"Maybe," said Tom, and then he crouched
down to make as little resistance as possible to
the wind. Andy, on the contrary, sat boldly up-
right at the auto steering-wheel of his boat.
On rushed the two motor craft, their prows ex-
actly even and the propellers tossing up a bulge
in the water at their sterns. Rapidly acquiring
speed after the two lads had adjusted the timers
68
OFF ON A TRIP 69
on their motors, the boats were racing side by
side, seemingly on even terms.
The Red Streak had a very sharp prow, de-
signed to cut through the water. It was of the
type known as an automobile launch. That is, the
engine was located forward, under a sort of hood,
which had two hinged covers like a bat's wings.
The steering-wheel shaft went through the for-
ward bulkhead, slantingly, like the wheel of an
auto, and was arranged with gasoline and spark-
ing levers on the center post in a similar manner.
At the right of the wheel was a reversing lever, by
which the propeller blades could be set at neutral,
or arranged so as to drive the boat backward. Al-
together the Red Streak was a very fine boat and
had cost considerably more than had Tom's, even
when the latter was new. All these things the
young owner of the Arrow thought of as he
steered his craft over the course.
"I hardly think I can win," Tom remarked to
himself in a whisper. "His boat is too speedy for
this one. I have a chance, though, for his engine
is new, and I don't believe he understands it as
well as I do mine. Then, too, I am sure I have a
better ignition system."
But if Tom had any immediate hopes of defeat-
ing Andy, they were doomed to disappointment,
70 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
for about two minutes after the race started the
Red Streak forged slowly ahead.
"Come on!" cried the red-haired lad. "I
thought you wanted a race."
"I do/' answered the young inventor. "We're
a long way from the dock yet, and we've got to
come back."
"You'll be out of it by the time I get to the
dock," declared Andy.
Indeed it began to look so, for the auto boat
was now a full length ahead of Tom's craft and
there was open water between them. But our
hero knew a thing or two about racing, though he
had not long been a motor-boat owner. He ad-
justed the automatic oiler on the cylinders to give
more lubrication, as he intended to get more speed
out of his engine. Then he opened the gasoline
cock a trifle more and set his timer forward a few
notches to get an earlier spark. He was not going
to use the maximum speed just yet, but he first
wanted to see how the motor of the Arrow would
behave under these conditions. To his delight he
saw his boat slowly creeping up on Andy's. The
latter, with a glance over his shoulder, saw it too,
and he advanced his spark. His craft forged
ahead, but the rate of increase was not equal to
Tom's.
"If I can keep up to him I suppose I ought to
OFF ON A TRIP 71
be glad," thought the young inventor, "for his
boat is away ahead of mine in rating."
Through the water the sharp bows cut. There
were only a few witnesses to the race, but those
who were out in boats saw a pretty sight as the
two speedy craft came on toward the dock, which
was the turning point.
Andy's boat reached it first, and swung about
in a wide circle for the return. Tom decided it
was time to make his boat do its best, so he set
the timer at the limit, and the spark, coming more
quickly, increased the explosions.
Up shot the Arrow and, straightening out after
the turn, Tom's craft crept along until it lapped
the stern of the Red Streak. Andy looked back in
dismay. Then he tried to get more speed out of
his engine. He did cause the screw to revolve a
little faster, and Tom noted that he was again
being left behind. Then one of those things which
may happen at any time to a gasoline motor hap-
pened to Andy's. It began to miss explosions. At
first it was only occasionally, then the misses be-
came more frequent.
The owner of the Red Streak with one hand on
the steering-wheel, tried with the other to adjust
the motor to get rid of the trouble, but he only
made it worse. Andy's boat began to fall back
and Tom's to creep up. Frantically Andy worked
72 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
the gasoline and sparking levers, but without
avail. At last one cylinder went completely out of
service.
The two boats were now on even terms and
were racing along side by side toward the wooded
point, which marked the finish.
"I'll beat you yet !" exclaimed Andy fiercely.
"Better hurry up 1" retorted Tom.
But the young inventor was not to have it all
ins own way. With a freakishness equal to that
with which it had ceased to explode the dead
cylinder came to life again, and the Red Streak
shot ahead. Once more Andy's boat had the lead
of a length and the finish of the race was close at
hand. The squint-eyed lad turned and shouted:
"I told you I'd beat you ! Want a tow now ?"
It began to look as though Tom would need it,
but he still had something in reserve. One of the
improvements he had put in the Arrow was a new
auxiliary ignition system. This he now decided
to use.
With a quick motion Tom threw over the
switch that put it into operation. A hotter, "fat-
ter" spark was at once produced, and adjusting
his gasoline cock so that a little more of the fluid
would be drawn in, making a "richer" mixture,
the owner of the Arrow saw the craft shoot for-
OFF ON A TRIP
73
ward as if, like some weary runner, new life had
been infused.
In vain did Andy frantically try to get more
speed out of his motor. He cut out the muffler,
and the explosions sounded loudly over the lake.
But it was no use. A minute later the Arrow,
which had slowly forged ahead, crossed the bows
of the Red Streak opposite the finishing point, and
Tom had won the race.
"Well, was that fair?" our hero called to Andy,
who had quickly shut off some of his power as he
saw his rival's daring trick. "Did I beat you
fair?"
"You wouldn't have beaten me if my engine
hadn't gone back on me," grumbled Andy, chagrin
showing on his face. "Wait until my motor runs
smoother and I'll give you a big handicap and
beat you. My boat's faster than yours. It ought
to be. It cost fifteen hundred dollars and it's a
racer."
"I guess it doesn't like racing," commented
Tom as he swung the prow of his craft down the
Jake toward his home. But he knew there was
some truth in what Andy had said. The Red
Streak was a more speedy boat, and, with proper
handling, could have beaten the Arrow. That was
where Tom's superior knowledge came in useful.
"Just you wait, I'll beat you yet," called Andy
74 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
after the young inventor, but the latter made no
answer. He was satisfied.
Mr. Swift was much interested that night in
his son's account of the race.
"I had no idea yours was such a speedy boat/3
he said.
"Well, it wasn't originally," admitted Tom,
"but the improvements I put on it made it so.
But, dad, when are we going on our tour? You
look more worn out than I've seen you in some
time, not excepting when the turbine model was
stolen. Are you worrying over your gyroscope
invention ?"
"Somewhat, Tom. I can't seem to hit on just
what I want. It's a difficult problem."
"Then I tell you what let's do, dad. Let's drop
everything in the inventive line and go off on a
vacation. I'll take you up the lake in my boat
and you can spend a week at the Lakeview Hotel
at Sandport. It will do you good."
"What will you do, Tom?"
"Oh, Ned Newton and I will cruise about and
we'll take you along any time you want to go.
We're going to camp out nights or sleep in ths
boat if it rains. I've ordered a canopy with side
curtains. Ned and I don't care for the hotel life
in the summer. Will you go ?"
Mr. Swift considered a moment. He did need
OFF ON A TRIP 75)
a rest, for he had been working hard and his
brain was weary with thinking of many problems.
His son's program sounded very attractive.
"I think I will accept," said the inventor with
a smile. "When can you start, Tom ?"
"In about four days. Ned Newton will get his
vacation then and I'll have the canopy on. I'll
start to work at it to-morrow. Then we'll go on
a trip."
Sandport was a summer resort at the extreme
southern end of Lake Carlopa, and Mr. Swift at
once wrote to the Lakeview Hotel there to engage
a room for himself. In the meanwhile Tom be-
gan to put the canopy on his boat and arrange for
the trip, which would take nearly a whole day.
Ned Newton was delighted with the prospect of a
camping tour and helped Tom to get ready. They
took a small tent and plenty of supplies, with some
food. They did not need to carry many rations,
as the shores of the lake were lined with towns
and villages where food could be procured.
Finally all was ready for the trip and the
night before the start Ned Newton stayed at
Tom's house so as to be in readiness for going off
early in the morning. The day was all that could
be desired, Tom noted, as he and his chum hurried
down to the dock before breakfast to put their
76 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
blankets in the boat. As the young inventor en*
tered the craft he uttered an exclamation.
"What's the matter?" asked Ned.
"I was sure I locked the sliding door of that
forward compartment/' was the reply. "Now it's
open." He looked inside the space occupied by
the gasoline tank and cried out: "One of tht
braces is gone! There's been some one at my
boat in the night and they tried to damage her."
"Much harm done?' 'asked Ned anxiously.
"No, none at all, to speak of," replied Tom. "I
can easily put a new block under the tank. In
fact, I don't really need all I have. But why
should any one take one out, and who did it?
That's what I want to know."
The two lads looked carefully about the dock
and boat for a sign of the missing block or any
clews that might show who had been tampering
with the Arrow, but they could find nothing.
"Maybe the block fell out," suggested Ned.
"It couldn't," replied Tom. "It was one of the
new ones I put in myself and it was nailed fast.
You can see where it's been pried loose. I can't
understand it," and Tom thought rapidly of sev-
eral mysterious occurrences of late in which the
strange man at the auction and the person he had
surprised one night in the boathouse had a part.
"Well, it needn't delay our trip," resumed the
OFF ON A TRIP 77
young inventor. "Maybe there's a hoodoo around
here, and it will do us good to get away a few
days. Come on, we'll have breakfast, get dad and
start."
A little later the Arrow was puffing away up
the lake in the direction of Sandport.
CHAPTER IX
MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED
"DON'T you feel better already, dad?" asked
Tom that noon as they stopped under a leaning,
overhanging tree for lunch on the shore of the
lake. "I'll leave it to Ned if you don't look more
contented and less worried."
"I believe he does," agreed the other lad.
"Well, I must say I certainly have enjoyed the
outing so far," admitted the inventor with a smile.
"And I haven't been bothering about my gyro-
scope. I think I'll take another sandwich, Tom,
and a few more olives."
"That's the way to talk !" cried the son. "Your
appetite is improving, too. If Mrs. Baggert could
see you she'd say so."
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Baggert. I do hope she and
Garret will look after the house and shops well,"'
said Mr. Swift, and the old, worried look came
like a shadow over his face.
"Now don't be thinking of that, dad," advised
78
MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED 79
Tom. "Of course everything will be all right.
Do you think some of those model thieves will
return and try to get some of your other inven-
tions?"
"I don't know, Tom. Those men were un-
scrupulous scoundrels, and you can never tell
what they might do to revenge themselves on us
for defeating their plans."
"Well, I guess Garret and Mrs. Baggert will
look out for them," remarked his son. "Don't
worry."
"Yes, it's bad for the digestion," added Ned.
"If you don't mind, Tom, I'll have some more
coffee and another sandwich myself."
"Nothing the matter with your appetite,
either," commented the young inventor as he
passed the coffee pot and the plate.
They were soon on their way again, the Arrow
making good time up the lake. Tom was at the
engine, making several minor adjustments to it,
while Ned steered. Mr. Swift reclined on one of
the cushioned seats under the shade of the canopy.
The young owner of the Arrow looked over the
stretch of water from time to time for a possible
sight of Andy Foger, but the Red Streak was not
to be seen. The Lakeview Hotel was reached
late that afternoon and the boat was tied up to the
86 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
9ock, while Tom and Ned accompanied Mr. Swift
to see him comfortably established in his room.
"Won't you stay to supper with me?" invited
the inventor to his son and the latter's chum. "Or
do you want to start right in on camp life?"
"I guess we'll stay to supper and remain at the
hotel to-night," decided Tom. "We got here a
little later than I expected, and Ned and I hardly
have time to go very far and establish a temporary
camp. We'll live a life of luxurious ease to-night
and begin to be 'wanderlusters' and get back to
nature to-morrow."
In the morning Tom and his chum, full of en-
thusiasm for the pleasures before them, started
off, promising to come back to the hotel in a few
days to see how Mr. Swift felt. The trip had
already done the man good and his face wore a
brighter look.
Tom and Ned, in the speedy 'Arrow, cruised
along the lake shores all that morning. At noon
they went ashore, made a temporary camp and
arranged to spend the night there in the tent.
After this was erected they got out their fishing
tackle and passed the afternoon at that sport, hav-
ing such good luck that they provided their own
supper without having to depend on canned stuff.
They lived this life for three days, making a
new camp each night, being favored with good
MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED 8t
weather, so that they did not have to sleep in the
boat to keep dry. On the afternoon of the third
day Tom, with a critical glance at the sky, re-
marked :
"I shouldn't be surprised if it rained to-morrow,
Ned."
"Me either. It does look sort of hazy, and the
wind is in a bad quarter."
"Then what do you say to heading for the
hotel? I fancy dad will be glad to see us."
"That suits me. We can start camp life again
after the storm passes."
They started for Sandport that afternoon.
When within about two miles of the hotel dock
Tom saw, just ahead of them, a small motor-boat
Ned observed it too and called out :
"S'pose that's Andy looking for another race?"
"No, the boat's too small for his. We'll put
over that way and see who it is."
The other craft did not appear to be moving
very rapidly and the Arrow was soon overhauling
it. As the two chums came nearer they could hear
the puffing of the motor. Tom listened with criti-
cal ears.
"That machine isn't working right," he re-
ftiarked to his chum.
At that moment there sounded a loud explosion
82 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
from the other boat and at the same time there
came over the water a shrill cry of alarm.
"That's a girl in that boat!" exclaimed Ned.
"Maybe she's hurt."
"No, the motor only back-fired," observed Tom.
"But we'll go over and see if we can help her.
Perhaps she doesn't understand it. Girls don't
know much about machinery."
A little later the Arrow shot up alongside the
other craft, which had come to a stop. The two
lads could see a girl bending over the. motor, twirl-
ing the fly-wheel and trying to get it started.
"Can I help you ?" asked Tom, shutting off the
power from his craft.
The young lady glanced up. Her face was red
and she seemed ill at ease. At the sight of the
young inventor she uttered an exclamation of
relief.
"Why, Mr. Swift!" she cried. "Oh, I'm in
such trouble. I can't make the machine work,
and I'm afraid it's broken ; it exploded."
"Miss Nestor!" blurted out Tom, more sur-
prised evidently to see his acquaintance of the
runaway again than she was at beholding him.
"I didn't know you ran a motor-boat," he added.
"I don't," said she simply and helplessly.
That's the trouble, it won't run."
MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED 83
"How comes it that you are up here ?" went on
Tom.
"I am stopping with friends, who have a cot-
tage near the Lakeview Hotel. They have 2,
motor-boat and I got Dick Blythe — he's the owner
of this — to show me how to run it. I thought I
knew, and I started out a little while ago. At
first it went beautifully, but a few minutes ago it
blew up, or — or something dreadful happened."
"Nothing very dreadful, I guess," Tom assured
her. "I think I can fix it" He got into the other
boat and soon saw what the trouble was. The car*
buretor had gotten out of adjustment and the
gasoline was not feeding properly. The young
inventor soon had it in order, and, testing the mo-
tor, found that it worked perfectly.
"Oh, I can't thank you enough," cried Miss
Nestor with a flash from her brown eyes that
made Tom's heart beat double time. "I was
afraid I had damaged the boat, and I knew Dick,
who is a sort of second cousin of mine, would
never forgive me."
"There's no harm done," Tom assured her.
"But you had better keep near us on your way
back ; that is, if you are going back."
"Oh, indeed I am. I was frightened when I
found I'd come so far away from shore, and then,
when that explosion took place — well, you can
84 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
imagine how I felt. Indeed I will keep near you.
Are you stopping near here? If you are, I wish
you'd come and see me, you and Mr. Newton,"
she added, for Tom had introduced his chum.
'I'll be very glad to," answered our hero, and
he told how he happened to be in the neighbor-
hood. "I'll give you a few lessons in managing a
boat, if you like/' he added.
"Oh, will you? That will be lovely! I won't
tell Dick about it, and I'll surprise him some day
by showing him how well I can run his boat."
"Good idea," commented Tom.
He started the motor for Miss Nestor, having
stopped it after his first test, and then, with the
Dot, which was the name of the small boat Miss
Nestor was in, following the larger Arrow, the
run back to the hotel was made. The young lady
turned off near the Lakeview dock to go to the
cottage where she was stopping and the lads tied
Up at the hotel boathouse.
"Yes, we are in for a storm," remarked Tom as
he and his chum walked up toward the hotel. "I
wonder how dad is? I hope the outing is doing
him good."
"There he comes now," observed Ned, and,
looking up, Tom saw his father approaching.
iThe young inventor was at once struck by the
expression on his parent's face. Mr. Swift looked
MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED 85
worried and Tom anxiously hastened forward to
meet him.
"What's the matter, dad?" he asked as cheer-
fully as he could. "Have you been figuring over
that gyroscope problem again, against my express
orders ?" and he laughed a little.
"No, Tom, it's not the gyroscope that's worry-
ing me."
"What is it then?"
"Those scoundrels are around again, Tom!"
and Mr. Swift looked apprehensively about him.
"You mean the men who stole the turbine
model?"
"Yes. I was walking in the woods near the
hotel yesterday and I saw Anson Morse. He did
not see me, for I turned aside as quickly as I had
a glimpse of him. He was talking to another
man."
"What sort of a man?"
"Well, an ordinary enough individual, but I
noticed that he had tattooed on the little finger of
his left hand a blue ring."
"Happy Harry, the tramp!" exclaimed Tom.
"What can he and Morse be doing here ?"
"I don't know, Tom, but I'm worried. I wish
I was back home. I'm afraid something may hap-
pen to some of my inventions. I want to go back
to Shopton, Tom."
86 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Nonsense, dad. Don't worry just because you
saw some of your former enemies. Everything
is all right at home. Mrs. Baggert and Garret
Jackson will look after things. But, if you like, I
can find out for you how matters are."
"How, Tom?"
"By taking a run down there in my motor-boat.
I can do it to-morrow and get back by night, if I
start early. Then you will not worry."
"All right, Tom ; I wish you would. Come up*
to my room and we will talk it over. I'd rather
have you go than telephone, as I don't like to talk
of my business over the wire if I can avoid it."
CHAPTER X
A CRY FOR HELP
"Now, dad, tell me all about it," requested Tom
when he and Ned were in Mr. Swift's apartment
at the hotel, safe from the rain that was falling.
"How did you happen to see Anson Morse and
Happy Harry?" My old readers will doubtless
remember that the latter was the disguised tramp
who was so vindictive toward Tom, while Morse
was the man who endeavored to sneak in Mr.
Swift's shop and steal a valuable invention.
"Well, Tom," proceeded the inventor, "there
isn't much to tell. I was out walking in the
woods yesterday, and when I was behind a clump
of bushes I heard voices. I looked out and there
I saw the two men.
"At first I thought they were trailing me, but
I saw that they had not seen me, and I didn't see
how they could know I was in the neighborhood.
So I quietly made my way back to the hotel."
"Could you hear what they were saying?"
88 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Not all, but they seemed angry over something.
The man with the blue ring on his finger asked
the other man whether Murdock had been heard
from."
"Who is Murdock?"
"I don't know, unless he is another member of
the gang or unless that is an assumed name."
"It may be that. What else did you hear?"
"The man we know as Morse replied that he
hadn't heard from him, but that he suspected
Murdock was playing a double game. Then
the tramp — Happy Harry — asked this question:
'Have you any clew to the sparkler ?' And Morse
answered: 'No, but I think Murdock has hid it
somewhere and is trying to get away with it
without giving us our share/ Then the two men
walked away, and I came back to the hotel," fin-
ished Mr. Swift.
"Sparkler," murmured Tom. "I wonder what
that can be?"
"That's a slang word for diamonds," suggested
Ned.
"So it is. In that case, dad, I think we have
nothing to worry about. Those fellows must be
going to commit a diamond robbery or perhaps
it has already taken place."
The inventor seemed relieved at this theory of
his son. His face brightened and he said:
A CRY FOR HELP 89
"If they are going to commit a robbery, Tom,
we ought to notify the police."
"But if they said that 'Murdock/ whoever he
is, had the sparkler and was trying to get away
with it without giving them their share, wouldn't
that indicate that the robbery had aleady taken
place?" asked Ned.
"That's so," agreed Tom. "But it won't do
any harm to tell the hotel detective that sus-
picious characters are around, no matter if the
robbery has been committed. Then he can be on
the lookout. But I don't think we have anything
to worry about, dad. Still, if you like, I'll take
a run down to the house to see that everything is
all right, though I'm sure it will be found that we
have nothing to be alarmed over."
"Well, I will be more relieved if you do," said
the inventor. "However, suppose we have a good
supper now and you boys can stay at the hotel
to-night. Then you and Ned can start off early
in the morning."
"All right," agreed Tom, but there was a
thoughtful look on his face and he appeared to
be planning something that needed careful atten-
tion to details.
After supper that night Tom took his chum to
one side and asked :
90 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Would you mind very much if you <$idn't
make the trip to Shopton with me?"
"No, Tom, of course not, if it will help you
any. Do you want me to stay here?"
"I think it will be a good plan. I don't like
to leave dad alone if those scoundrels are around
Of course he's able to look after himself, but
sometimes he gets absent minded from thinking
too much about his inventions."
"Of course I'll stay here at the hotel. This is
just as good a vacation as I could wish."
"Oh, I don't mean all the while. Just a day or
so — until I come back. I may be here again by
to-morrow night and find that my father is need-
lessly alarmed. Then something may have hap-
pened at home and I would be delayed. If I
should be, I'd feel better to know that you were
here."
"Then I'll stay, and if I see any of those
men "
"You'd better steer clear of them," advised
Tom quickly. "They are dangerous customers."
"All right. Then I'll go over and give Miss
Nestor lessons on how to run a motor-boat," was
the smiling response. "I fancy, with what she
and I know, we can make out pretty well."
"Hold on there !" cried Tom gaily. "No tres-
passing, you know,"
A CRY FOR HELP gi
"Oh, I'll just say I'm your agent," promised
Ned with a grin. "You can't object to that."
"No, I s'pose not. Well, do the best you can.
She is certainly a nice girl."
"Yes, but you do seem to turn up at most op-
portune times. Luck is certainly with you where
she is concerned. First you save her in a run-
away "
"After I start the runaway," interrupted Tom.
"Then you take her for a ride in your motor-
boat, and, lastly, you come to her relief when she
is stalled in the middle of the lake. Oh, you cer-
tainly are a lucky dog !"
"Never mind, I'm giving you a show. Now
let's get to bed early, as I want to get a good
start."
Tom awoke to find a nasty, drizzling rainstorm
in progress, and the lake was almost hidden from
view by a swirling fog. Still he was not to be
daunted from his trip to Shopton by the weather,
and, after a substantial breakfast, he bade his
father and Ned good-by and started off in the
Arrow.
The canopy he had provided was an efficient
protection against the rain, a celluloid window in
the forward hanging curtains affording him a
view so that he could steer.
Through the mist puffed the boat, the motor
92 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
being throttled down to medium speed, for Tom
was not as familiar with the lake as he would
like to have been, and he did not want to run
aground or into another craft.
He was thinking over what his father had told
him about the presence of the men and vainly
wondering what might be their reference to the
"sparkler." His thoughts also dwelt on the curi-
ous removal of the bracing block from under the
gasoline tank of his boat.
"I shouldn't be surprised but what Andy Foger
did that," he mused. "Some day he and I will
have a grand fight, and then maybe he'll let me
alone. Well, I've got other things to think about
now. The hotel detective can keep a lookout for
the men around the hotel, after the warning I
gave him, and I'll see that all is right at home."
The fog lifted somewhat and Tom put on more
speed. As he was steering the boat along near
shore he heard, off to the woods at his right, the
report of a gun. It came so suddenly that he
jumped involuntarily. A moment later there
sounded, plainly through the damp air, a cry for
help.
"Some one's hurt — shot!" cried the youth
aloud.
He turned the boat in toward the bank. As he
A CRY FOR HELP 93
shut off the power from the motor he heard the
cry again :
"Help! help! help!"
"I must go ashore !" he exclaimed. "Probably
some one is badly wounded by a gun."
He paused for a moment as the fear came to
him that it might be some of the patent thieves.
Then, dismissing that idea as the Arrow's prow
touched the gravel, Tom sprang out, drew the
boat up a little way, fastened the rope to a tree
and hurried off into the dripping woods in the
direction of the voice that was calling for aid.
CHAPTER XI
A QUICK RUN
"WHERE are you?" cried Tom, "Are you
Eurt ? Where are you ?"
Uttering these words after he had hurried into
the woods a short distance, the young inventor
paused for an answer. At first he could hear
nothing but the drip of water from the branches
of the trees; then, as he listened intently, he be-
came aware of a groan not far away.
"Where are you?" cried the lad again. "I've
come to help you. Where are you ?"
He had lost what little fear he had had at first,
that it might be one of the unscrupulous gang,
and came to the conclusion that he might safely
offer to help.
Once more the groan sounded and it was fol-
lowed by a faint voice speaking:
"Here I am, under the big oak tree. Oh, who-
ever you are, help me quickly! I'm bleeding to
death!"
A QUICK RUN 95
With the sound of the voice to guide him, Tom
swung around. The appeal had come from the
left and, looking in that direction, he saw, through
the mist, a large oak tree. Leaping over the
underbrush toward it he caught sight of the
wounded man at its foot. Beside him lay a gun
and there was a wound in the man's right arm.
"Who shot you?" cried Tom, hurrying to the
side of the man. "Was it some of those patent
thieves ?" Then, realizing that a stranger would
know nothing of the men who had stolen the
model, Tom prepared to change the form of his
question. But, before he had an opportunity to
do this, the man, whose eyes were closed, opened
them, and, as he got a better sight of his face,
Tom uttered a cry.
"Why, it's Mr. Duncan!" exclaimed the lad.
He had recognized the rich hunter, whom he had
first met in the woods that spring shortly after
Happy Harry, the tramp, had disabled Tom's
motor-cycle. "Mr. Duncan," the young inventor
repeated, "how did you get shot ?"
"Is that you, Tom Swift?" asked the gunner.
"Help me, please. I must stop this bleeding in
my arm. I'll tell you about it afterward. Wind
something around it tight — your handkerchief
Will do."
The man sighed weakly and his eyes closed
96 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
again. The lad saw the blood spurting from an
ugly wound.
"I must make a tourniquet," the youth ex-
claimed. 'That will check the bleeding until I
can get him to a doctor."
With Tom to think was to act He took out his
knife and cut off Mr. Duncan's sleeves below the
injury, slashing through coat and shirts. Then
he saw that part of a charge of shot had torn
away some of the large muscular development of
the upper arm. The hunter seemed to have
fainted and the youth worked quickly. Tying his
handkerchief above the wound and inserting a
small stone under the clotr^, so that the pebble
would press on the main artery, Tom put a stick
in the handkerchief and began to twist it. This
had the effect of tightening the linen around the
arm, and in a few seconds the lad was glad to see
that the blood had stopped spurting out with
every beat of the heart. Giving the tourniquet
a few more twists to completely stop the flow of
blood, Tom fastened the stick-lever in place by a
bit of string.
"That's—that's better," murmured Mr. Dun-
can. "Now if you can go for a doctor " he
had to pause for breath.
"I'll not leave you here alone while I go for a
doctor," declared Tom. "I have my motor-boat
A QUICK RUN 97
on the lake. Do you think I could get you down
to it and take you home?"
"Perhaps — maybe. I'll be stronger in a mo-
ment, now that the bleeding has stopped. But
not — not home — frighten my wife. Take me to
the sanitarium if you can — sanitarium up the lake,
a few miles from here."
The unfortunate man, who had tried to sit up-
right, had to lean back against the tree again.
Tom understood what he meant in spite of the
broken sentences. Mr. Duncan did not want to
be taken home in the condition he was then in, for
fear of alarming his wife. He wanted to be taken
to the sanitarium, and Tom knew where this was,
a well-known resort for the treatment of various
diseases and surgical cases. It was about five
miles away and on the opposite shore of the lake,
"Water — a drink!" murmured Mr. Duncan.
Seeing that his patient would be all right, for a
few minutes at least, Tom hurried to his motor-
boat, got a cup and, filling it with water from a
jug he carried, he hastened with if to the hunter.
The fluid revived the man wonderfully and now
that the bleeding had almost completely stopped,
Mr. Duncan was much stronger.
"Do you think you can get to the boat, if I help
you?" asked Tom.
"Yes, I believe so. To think of meeting you
98 TOM SWIFT 'AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
again, and under such circumstances ! It is provi-
dential."
"Did some one shoot you ?" inquired Tom, who
could not get out of his head the notion of the
men who had once assaulted him.
"No, I shot myself," answered Mr. Duncan as
he got to his feet with Tom's help. "I was out
with my gun, practicing just as I was that day
when I met you in the woods. I stooped down to
crawl under a bush and the weapon went off, the
muzzle being close against my arm. I can't un-
derstand how it happened. I fell down and called
for help. Then I guess I must have fainted, but
I came to when I heard you talking to me. I
shouldn't have come out to-day as it is so wet, but
I had some new shot shells I wished to try in
order to test them before the hunting season. But
if I can get to the sanitarium, I will be well taken
care of. I know one of the doctors there."
With Tom leading him and acting as a sort of
support, the journey to the motor-boat was slowly
made. Making as comfortable a bed as possible
out of the seat cushions, Tom assisted Mr. Dun-
can to it, and then starting the engine he sent his
boat out from shore at half speed, as the fog was
still thick and he did not want to run upon a rock.
"Do you know where the sanitarium is ?" asked
the wounded hunter.
A QUICL RUN 99
"About," answered Tom a little doubtfully,
"but I'm afraid it's going to be hard to locate it
in this fog."
"There's a compass in my coat pocket," said
Mr. Duncan. "Take it out and I'll tell you how to
steer. You ought to carry a compass if you're
going to be a sailor."
Tom was beginning to think so himself and
wondered that he had not thought of it before.
He found the one the hunter had, and placing it
on the seat near him, he carefully listened to the
wounded man's directions. Tom easily compre-
hended and soon had the boat headed in the
proper direction. After that it was comparatively
easy to keep on the right course, even in the fog.
But there was another danger, however, and
this was that he might run into another boat.
True, there were not many on Lake Carlopa, but
there were some, and one of the few motor-boats
might be out in spite of the bad weather.
"Guess I'll not run at full speed," decided Tom.
"I wouldn't like to crash into the Red Streak*
We'd both sink."
So he did not run his motor at the limit and!
sat at the steering-wheel, peering ahead into the
fog for the first sight of another craft
He turned to look at Mr. Duncan and was
alarmed at the pallor of his face. The man's eyes
100 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
were closed and he was breathing in a peculiar
manner.
"Mr. Duncan," cried Tom, "are you worse?"
There was no answer. Leaving the helm for a
moment, Tom bent over the injured hunter. A
glance showed him what had happened. The tour-
niquet had slipped and the wound was bleeding
again. Tom quickly shut off the motor, so that
he might give his whole attention to the work of
tightening the handkerchief. But something
seemed to be wrong. No matter how tightly he
twisted the stick the blood did not stop flowing.
The lad was frightened. In a short time the man
would bleed to death.
"I've got to get him to the sanitarium in record
time !" exclaimed Tom. "Fog or no xog, I've got
to run at full speed ! I've got to chance it !"
Making the bandage as tight as he could and
fastening it in place, the young inventor sprang to
the motor and set it in motion. Then he went to
the wheel. In a few minutes the Arrow was
speeding through the water as it had never done
before, except when it had raced the Red Streak.
"If I hit anything — good-by!" thought Tom
grimly. His hands were tense on the rim of
the steering-wheel and he was ready in an instant
to reverse the motor as he sat there straining his
eyes to see through the curtain of mist that hung
A QUICK RUN ioi
over the lake. Now and then he glanced at the
compass, to keep on the right course, and from
time to time he looked at Mr. Duncan. The
hunter was still unconscious.
How Tom accomplished that trip he hardly re-
membered afterward. Through the fog he shot,
expecting any moment to crash into some other
boat. He did pass a rowing craft in which sat a
lone fisherman. The lad was upon him in an in-
stant, but a turn of the wheel sent the Arrow
safely past, and the startled fisherman, whose frail
craft was set to rocking violently by the swell
from the motor-boat, sent an objecting cry
through the fog after Tom. But the youth did
not reply. On and on he raced, getting the last
atom of power from his motor.
He feared Mr. Duncan would be dead when he
arrived, but when he saw the dock of the sani-
tarium looming up out of the mist and shut off
the power to slowly run up to it, he placed his
hand on the wounded man's heart and found it
itill beating.
"He's alive, anyhow," thought the youth, and
then his craft bumped up against the bulkhead
and a man in the boathouse on the dock was sent
on the run for a physician.
Mr. Duncan was quickly taken up to the sani-
tarium on a stretcher and Tom followed.
102 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"You must have made a record run/* observed
one of the physicians a little while afterward,
when Tom was telling of his trip while waiting
in the office to hear the report on the hunter's con-
dition.
"I guess I did," muttered the young inventor^
"only I didn't think so at the time. It seemed as
if we were only crawling along."
CHAPTER XII
SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS
UNDER the skill of the physicians at the lake
sanitarium Mr. Duncan's wound was quickly at-
tended to and the bleeding, which Tom had partly
checked, was completely stopped. Some medi-
ycines having been administered, the hunter re-
gained a little of his strength, and, about an hour
after he had been brought to the resort, he was
able to see Tom, who, at his request, was admitted
to his room. The young inventor found Mr.
Duncan propped up in bed, with his injured arm
bandaged.
*Is the injury a bad one?" asked Tom, enter-
ing softly.
"Not as bad as I feared," replied the hunter,
•while a trained nurse placed a chair for the lad
at the bedside. "If it had not been for you,
though, I'm afraid to think of what might have
happened."
"I am glad I chanced to be going past when
you called," replied the lad.
so*
104 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Well, you can imagine how thankful / am/'
resumed Mr. Duncan. "I'll thank you more prop-
erly at another time. I hope I didn't delay you
on your trip."
"It's not of much consequence," responded the
youth. "I was only going to see that everything
was all right at our house," and he explained
about his father being at the hotel and mentioned
his worriment. "I will go on new unless I can
do something more for you," resumed Tom. "I
will probably stay at our house all night to-night
instead of trying to get back to Sandport."
"I'd like to send word to my wife about what
has happened," said the hunter. "If it vould not
be too much out of your way, I'd appreciate it if
you could stop at my home in Waterford and tell
her, so she will not be alarmed at my absence."
"I'll do it," replied our hero. "There is no
special need of my hurrying. I have brought your
gun and compass up from the boat. They are
down in the office."
"Will you do me a favor?" asked Mr. Duncan
quickly.
"Of course."
"Then please accept that gun and compass with
my compliments. They are both of excellent
make, and I don't think I shall use that gun this
season. My wife would be superstitious about
SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS 105
it. As for the compass, you'll need one in this
fog, and I can recommend mine as being ac-
curate/''
"Oh, I couldn't think of taking them," expostu-
lated Tom, but his eyes sparkled in anticipation,
for he had been wishing for a gun such as Mr.
Duncan owned. He also needed a compass.
"If you don't take them I shall feel very much
offended/' the hunter said, "and the nurse here
will tell you that sick persons ought to be hu-
mored. Hadn't they?" and he appealed to the
pretty young woman, who was smiling at Tom.
"That's perfectly true," she said, showing her
white, even teeth. "I think, Mr. Swift, I shall
have to order you to take them."
"All right," agreed Tom, "only it's too much
for what I did."
"It isn't half enough," remarked Mr. Duncan
solemnly. "Just explain matters to my wife, if
you will, and tell her the doctor says I can be out
in about a week. But I'm not going hunting or
practicing shots again."
A little later Tom, with the compass before him
to guide him on his course through the fog, was
speeding his boat toward Waterford. Now and
then he glanced at the fine shotgun which he had
so unexpectedly acquired.
"This will come in dandy this fall!" he ex-
106 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
claimed. "I'll go hunting quail and partridge as
well as wild ducks. This compass is just what I
need, too."
Mrs. Duncan was at first very much alarmed
when Tom started to tell her of the accident, but
she soon calmed down as the lad went more into
details and stated how comparatively out of dan-
ger her husband now was. The hunter's wife in-
sisted that Tom remain to dinner, and as he had
made up his mind he would have to devote two
days instead of one to the trip to his house, he
consented.
The fog lifted that afternoon, and Tom, rejoic*
ing in the sunlight, which drove away the storm
clouds, speeded up the Arrow until she was skim-
ming over the lake like a shaft from a bow.
"This is something like/' he exclaimed. "I'll
soon be at home, find everything all right and
telephone to dad. Then I'll sleep in my own
room and start back in the morning."
When Tom was within a few miles of his own
boat-house he heard behind him the "put-put" of
a motor craft. Turning, he saw the Red Streak
fairly flying along at some distance from him.
"Andy certainly is getting the speed out of her
now," he remarked. "He'd beat me if we were
racing, but the trouble with his boat and engine
is that he can't always depend on it. I guess he
SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS 107
doesn't understand how to run it. I wonder if
he'll offer to race now ?"
But the red-haired owner of the auto boat evi-
dently did not intend to offer Tom a race. The
Red Streak went on down the lake, passing the
Arrow about half a mile away. Then the young
inventor saw that Andy had two other lads in the
boat with him.
"Sam Snedecker and Pete Bailey, I guess," he
murmured. "Well, they're a trio pretty much
alike. The farther off they are the better I like it"
Tom once more gave his attention to his own
boat. He was going at a fair speed, but not the
limit, and he counted on reaching home in about
a half hour. Suddenly, when he was just con-
gratulating himself on the smooth-running quali-
ties of his motor, which had not missed an ex-
plosion, the machinery stopped.
"Hello !" exclaimed the young inventor in some
alarm. "What's up now ?"
He quickly shut off the gasoline and went back
to the motor. Now there are so many things that
may happen to a gasoline engine that it would be
difficult to name them all offhand, and Tom, who
had not had very much experience, was at a loss
to find what had stopped his machinery. He tried
the spark and found that by touching the wire to
the top of the cylinder, when the proper connect
108 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
tion was made, that he had a hot, "fat one." The
compression seemed all right and the supply pipe
from the gasoline tank was in perfect order. Still
the motor would not go. No explosion resulted
when he turned the fly-wheel over, not even when
he primed the cylinder by putting a little gasoline
in through the cocks on the cylinder heads.
"That's funny," he remarked to himself as he
rested from his labors and contemplated the
"dead" motor. "First time it has gone back on
me." The boat was drifting down the lake, and,
at the sound of another motor craft approaching,
Tom looked up. He saw the Red Streak, contain-
ing Andy Foger and his cronies. They had ob-
served the young inventor's plight.
"Want a tow?" sneered Andy.
"What'll you take for your second-hand boat
that won't run?" asked Pete Bailey.
"Better get out of the way or you might be
run down," added Sam Snedecker.
Tom was too angry and chagrined to reply, and
the Red Streak swept on.
"I'll make her go, if it takes all night !" declared
Tom energetically. Once more he tried to start
the motor. It coughed and sighed, as if in pro-
test, but would not explode. Then Tom cried:
"The 'spark plug! That's where the trouble is,
I'll wager. Why didn't I think of it before?"
SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS 109
It was the work of but a minute to unscrew the
spark plugs from the tops of the cylinders. He
found that both had such accumulations of carbon
on them that no spark could ever have reached the
mixture of gasoline and air.
"I'll put new ones in," he decided, for he carried
a few spare plugs for emergencies. Inside of five
minutes, with the new plugs in place, the motor
was running better than before.
"Now for home!" cried Tom, "and if I meet
Andy Foger I'll race him this time."
But the Red Streak was not in sight, and, a
little later, Tom had run the Arrow into the boat-
house, locked the door and was on his way up to
the mansion.
"I suppose Mrs. Baggert and Garret will be
surprised to see me," he remarked. "Maybe
they'll think we don't trust them, bycomingback in
this fashion to see that everything is safe. But
then, I suppose, dad is naturally nervous about
some of his valuable machinery and inventions*
I think I'll find everything all right, though."
As Tom went up the main path and swung off
to a side one, which was a short cut to the house,
he saw in the dusk, for it was now early evening,
a movement in the bushes that lined the walk.
"Hello, Garret!" exclaimed the lad, taking it
HO TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
for granted it was the engineer employed by Mr.
Swift.
There was no reply, and Tom, with a sudden
suspicion, sprang toward the bushes. The shrub-
bery was more violently agitated and, as the lad
reached the screen of foliage, he saw a man spring
up from the ground and take to his heels.
"Here! Who are you? What do you want?"
yelled Tom.
Hardly had he spoken when from behind a big
apple tree another man sprung. It was light
enough so that the lad could see his face, and a
glimpse of it caused him to cry out :
"Happy Harry, the tramp !"
Before he could call again the two men had dis-
appeared.
CHAPTER XIII
TOM IN DANGER
"GARRET ! Garret Jackson !" cried Tom as he
struggled through the hedge of bushes and ran
after the men. "Where are you, Garret? Come
on and help me chase these men !"
But there came no answer to Tom's hail. He
could not hear the sound of the retreating foot-
steps of the men now and concluded that they had
made their escape. Still he would not give up,
but dashed on, slipping and stumbling, now and
then colliding with a tree.
"What can they be doing here?" thought Tom
in great anxiety. "Are they after some more of
dad's inventions because they didn't get his tur-
bine motor ?"
"Hello! Who's there? Who are you ?" called
a voice suddenly.
"Oh, Garret! Where have you been?" asked
the young inventor, recognizing the tones of his
father's keeper. "I've been calling you. Some of
those scoundrels are around again 1"
in
112 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Why if it isn't Tom !" ejaculated the engineer.
"However in the world did you get here? I
thought you were at Sandport."
"I'll explain later, Garret Just now I want to
catch those men, if I can."
"Which men?"
"Happy Harry and another one, I saw them
hiding down by the orchard path. Come on,
they're right ahead of us."
But though they hunted as well as they were
able to in the fast-gathering darkness, there was
no trace of the intruders. They had to give up,
and Tom, after going to the boathouse to see that
the Arrow was all right, returned to the house£
where he told the engineer and housekeeper what
had brought him back and how he had surprised
the two men.
"Is everything all right, Garret ?" he concluded.
"Dad is nervous and frightened. I must tele-
phone him at the hotel to-night and let him know,
for I promised to come back. I can't, though,
until to-morrow."
"Everything is all right as far as I know,"
answered Jackson. "I've kept a careful watch
and the burglar alarm has been in working order.
Mrs. Baggert and I haven't been disturbed a
single night since you went away. It's curious
TOM IN DANGER 1 1 3
that the men should be here the very night you
come back. Maybe they followed you."
"I hardly think so, for they didn't know I was
coming."
"You can't tell what those fellows know," com-
mented the engineer. "But, anyhow, I don't
s'pose they could have gotten here from Sandport
as soon as you did."
"Oh, yes they could, in their automobile," de-
clared Tom. "But I don't believe they knew I was
coming. They knew we were away, however,
and thought it would be a good time to steal
something, I guess. Are you sure nothing has
been taken?"
"Perfectly sure, but you and I will take a look
around the shop."
They made a hasty examination, but found
nothing disturbed and no signs that any one had
tried to break in.
"I think I'll telephone dad that everything is
all right," decided Tom. "It is, as far as his in-
ventions are concerned, and if I tell about seeing
the men it will only worry him. I can explain
that part better when I see him. But when I go
back, Garret, you will have to be on your guard,
since those men are in the neighborhood."
"I will, Tom. Don't worry."
Mr. Swift was soon informed by his son over
114 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
the telephone that nothing in the shops had been
disturbed, and the inventor received the news with
evident satisfaction. He requested Tom to come
back to the hotel in the morning, in order that the
three of them might go for a ride about the lake
in the afternoon, and Tom decided to make an
early start.
The night passed without incident, though
Tom, who kept the gun Mr. Duncan had given
him in readiness for use, got up several times,
thinking he heard suspicious noises. After an
early breakfast, and having once more cautioned
the engineer and housekeeper to be on their guard,
Tom started back in the Arrow.
As it would not be much out of his way, the
young inventor decided to cut across the lake and
stop at the sanitarium, that he might inquire about
Mr. Duncan. He thought he could speed the
Arrow up sufficiently to make up for any time he
might lose, and, with this in mind, he headed out
toward the middle of Lake Carlopa. The engine
was working splendidly with the new spark plugs,
and Tom was wondering if there was any possible
method of getting more revolutions out of the
motor. He had about come to the conclusion that
a new propeller might answer his purpose when
he heard the noise of an approaching boat. He
looked up quickly and exclaimed :
TOM IN DANGER 1 1 5
"Andy Foger again, and Pete and Sam are with
him. It's a wonder he wouldn't go off on a trip
instead of cruising around so near home. Guess
he's afraid he'll get stuck."
Idly Tom watched the Red Streak. It was cut-
ting through the water at a fast rate, throwing up
curling foam on either side of the sharp bow.
"He seems to be heading this way," mused
Tom. "Well, I'm not going to race with him
to-day."
Nearer and nearer came the speedy craft,
straight for the Arrow. The young inventor
shifted his helm in order to get out of Andy's
course, but to his surprise he saw that the red-
haired lad changed the direction of his own boat
"Guess he wants to see how close he cats come
to me," thought our hero. "Maybe he wants to
show how fast he's going."
The Red Streak was now so close that the fea-
tures of the occupants could easily be distin-
guished. There were grins on the faces of Andy
and his cronies.
"Get out of the way or we'll run you down!"
cried the bully. "We've got the right of way."
"Don't you try anything like that!" shouted*
Tom in some alarm, not that he was afraid of
Andy, but the Red Streak was getting danger-
ously near, and he knew Andy was not a skilful
Il6 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
helmsman. The auto-boat was now headed di.
rectly at the Arrow and coming on speedily.
Andy was bending over the wheel and Tom had
begun to turn his, in order to get well out of the
way of the insolent, squint-eyed lad and his
friends.
Suddenly Andy uttered a cry and leaped up.
"Look out ! look out !" he yelled. "My steering
gear has broken! I can't change my course.
Look out !"
The Red Streak was bearing right down on
Tom's boat
"Shut off your power! Reverse!" shouted
Tom.
Andy seemed confused and did not know what
to do. Sam Snedecker sprang to the side of his
crony, but he knew even less about a motor-boat.
It looked as if Tom would be run down, and he
was in great danger.
But the young inventor did not lose his head.
He put his wheel hard over and then, leaping to
his motor, sent it full speed forward. Not a mo-
ment too soon had he acted, for an instant later
the other boat shot past the stern of the Arrow,
hitting it a severe but glancing blow. Tom's boat
quivered from end to end and he quickly shut off
the power. By this time Andy had succeeded in
slowing down his craft. The young inventor
TOM IN DANGER 1 1 7
hastily looked over the side of the Arrow. One
of the rudder fastenings had been torn loose.
"What do you mean by running me down?"
shouted Tom angrily.
"I — I didn't do it on purpose," returned Andy
contritely. "I was seeing how near I could come
to you when my steering gear broke. I hope I
haven't damaged you."
"My rudder's broken," went on Tom, "and
I've got to put back to repair it. I ought to have
you arrested for this !"
"I'll pay for the damage," replied Andy, and
he was so frightened that he was white, in spite of
his tan and freckles.
"That won't do me any good now," retorted
Tom. "It will delay me a couple of hours. If
you try any tricks like that again, I'll complain to
the authorities and you won't be allowed to run a
boat on this lake."
Andy knew that his rival was in the right and
did not reply. The bully and his cronies busied
themselves over the broken steering gear, and the
young inventor, finding that he could make a shift
to get back to his boathouse, turned his craft
around and headed for there, in order to repair
the damage.
CHAPTER XIV
THE ARROW DISAPPEARS
PAYING no heed to the occupants of the bully's
boat, who, by reason of their daring, had been
responsible for his accident that might have re-
sulted seriously, Tom was soon at his dock. He
had it conveniently arranged for hoisting craft out
of the water to repair them, and in a few minutes
the stern of the Arrow was elevated so that he
could get at the rudder.
"Well, it's not as bad as I thought," he re-
marked when, with critical eye, he had noted the
damage done. I can fix it in about an hour if
Garret helps me."
Going up to the house to get some tools and to
tell the engineer that he had returned, Tom looked
out over the lake and saw Andy's boat moving
slowly off.
"They've got her fixed up in some kind of
shape," he murmured. "It's a shame for a chump
like Andy to have a good boat like that He'll
118
THE ARROW DISAPPEARS 119
spoil it in one season. He's getting altogether too
reckless. First thing he knows, he and I will have
a clash and I'll pay back some of the old scores/'
Mr. Jackson was much surprised to see the
young inventor home again so soon, as was also
Mrs. Baggert. Tom explained what had hap-
pened, and he and the engineer went to work re^
pairing the damage done by the Red Streak. As
the owner of the Arrow had anticipated, the work
did not take long, and, shortly before dinner time,
the boat was ready to resume the interrupted trip
to Sandport.
"Better stay and have lunch," urged Mrs. Bag-
gert "You can hardly get to the hotel by night,
anyhow, and maybe it would be better not to start
until to-morrow."
"No, I must get back to-night or dad would be
Worried," declared Tom. "I've been gone longer
now than I calculated on. But I will have dinner
here, and, if necessary, I can do the last half of the
trip after dark. I know the way now and I have a
compass and a good searchlight."
The Arrow was let down into the water again
and tied outside the boathouse ready for a quick
start. The dinner Mrs. Baggert provided was so
good that Tom lingered over it longer than he
meant to, and he asked for a second apple dum-
pling with hard sauce on. So it was with a very
120 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
comfortable feeling indeed and with an almost
forgiving spirit toward Andy Foger that our hero
started down the path to the lake.
"Now for a quick run to Sandport," he said
aloud. "I hope I shan't see any more of those
men and that dad hasn't been bothered by them.
His suspicions about the house weren't altogether
unfounded, for I did see the tramp and some one
else sneaking around, but I don't believe they'll
come back now."
Tom swung around the path that led to the
dock. As he came in sight of the water, he stared
as if he could not believe what he saw, or, rather,
what he did not see. For there was no craft tied
to the string-piece, where he had fastened his
motor-boat. He looked again, rubbed his eyes to
make sure and then cried out :
"The Arrow is gone !"
There was no doubt of it. The craft was not at
the dock. Breaking into a run, Tom hastened to
the boathouse. The Arrow was not in there, and
a look across the lake showed only a few rowboats
in sight.
"That' s mighty funny," mused the youth. "1
wonder "
He paused suddenly in his thoughts.
"Maybe Garret took it out to try and see that
it worked all right," he said hopefully. "He
THE ARROW DISAPPEARS 121
knows how to run a boat. Maybe he wanted to
see how the rudder behaved and is out in it now.
He got through dinner before I did. But I should
have thought he'd have said something to me if
iie was going out in it."
This was the one weak point in Tom's theory,
and he felt it at once.
"I'll see if Garret is in his shop," he went on as
he turned back toward the house.
The first person he met as he headed for the
group of small structures where Mr. Swift's in-
ventive work was carried on was Garret Jackson,
the engineer.
"I — I thought you were out in my boat !" stam-
mered Tom.
"Your boat! Why would I be out in your
boat ?" and Mr. Jackson removed his pipe from his
mouth and stared at the young inventor.
"Because it's gone!"
"Gone!" repeated the engineer, and then Tom
told him. The two hurried down to the dock, but
the addition of another pair of eyes was of no
assistance in locating the Arrow. The trim little
motor craft was nowhere to be seen.
"I can't understand it," said Tom helplessly.
"I wasn't gone more than an hour at dinner, and
yet "
122 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"It doesn't take long to steal a motor-boat*
commented the engineer.
"But I think I would have heard them start it,*
went on the lad. "Maybe it drifted off, though
I'm sure I tied it securely."
"No, there's not much likelihood of that
There's no wind to-day and no currents in the
lake. But it could easily have been towed off by
some one in a rowboat and then you would not
have heard the motor start."
"That's so," agreed the youth. "That's prob-
ably how they did it. They sneaked up here in a
rowboat and towed the Arrow ofE I'm sure
of it."
"And I'll wager I know who did it," exclaimed
Mr. Jackson energetically.
"Who?" demanded Tom quickly.
"Those men who were sneaking around — •
Happy Harry and his gang. They stole the boat
once and they'd do it again. Those men took
your boat, Tom."
The young inventor shook his head.
"No," he answered, "I don't believe they did"
"Why not?"
"Well, because they wouldn't dare come back
here when they knew we're on the lookout for
them. It would be too risky."
"Oh, those fellows don't care for risk," was the
THE ARROW DISAPPEARS
opinion of Mr. Jackson. "Take my word for it,
they have your boat. They have been keeping
watch, and as soon as they saw the dock unpro-
tected they sneaked up and stole the Arrow''
"I don't think so," repeated Mr. Swift's son,
"Who do you think took it, then?"
"Andy Foger !" was the quick response. "I be-
lieve he and his cronies did it to annoy me. They
have been trying to get even with me — or at least
Andy has — for outbidding him on this boat. He's
tried several times, but he hasn't succeeded — until
now. I'm sure Andy Foger has my boat," and
Tom, with a grim tightening of his lips, swung
around as though to start in instant pursuit.
"Where are you going?" asked Mr. Jackson.
"To find Andy and his cronies. When I locate
them I'll make them tell me where my boat is."
"Hadn't you better send some word to your
father ? You can hardly get to Sandport now, and
he'll be worried about you."
"That's so, I will. I'll telephone dad that the
boat — no, I'll not do that either, for he'd only
worry and maybe get sick. I'll just tell him I've
had a little accident, that Andy ran into me and
that I can't come back to the hotel for a day or
two. Maybe I'll be lucky to find my boat in that
time. But dad won't worry then, and, when I see
124 TOM SWIFT AND his MOTOR-BOAT
him, I can explain. That's what I'll do," and
Tom was soon talking to Mr. Swift by telephone.
The inventor was very sorry his son could not
come back to rejoin him and Ned, but there was
no help for it, and, with as cheerful voice as he
could assume, the lad promised to start for Sand-
port at the earliest opportunity.
"Now to find Andy and my boat!" Tom ex*
claimed as he hung up the telephone receiver-
CHAPTER XV
A DISMAYING STATEMENT
TROUBLE is sometimes good in a way ; it makes
a person resourceful. Tom Swift had had his
*hare of annoyances of late, but they had served
a purpose. He had learned to think clearly and
quickly. Now, when he found his boat stolen, he
at once began to map out a plan of action.
"What will you do first?" asked Mr. Jackson
as he saw his employer's son hesitating.
"First I'm going to Andy Foger's house," de-
clared the young inventor. "If he's home I'm
going to tell him what I think of him. If he's
not, I'm going to find him."
•'Why don't you take your sailboat and run
down to his dock?" suggested the engineer. "It
isn't as quick as your motor-boat, but it's better
than walking."
"So it is," exclaimed the lad. "I will use my
catboat. I had forgotten all about it of late. I'm
glad you spoke."
Ml
126 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
He was soon sailing down the lake in the direc-
tion of the boathouse on the water front of Mr.
Foger's property. It needed but a glance around
the dock to show him that the Red Streak was not
there, but Tom recollected the accident to the
steering gear and thought perhaps Andy had
taken his boat to some wharf where there was a
repair shop and there left it to return home him-
self. But inquiry of Mrs. Foger, who was as nice
a woman as her son was a mean lad, gave Tom
the information that his enemy was not ar home.
"He telephoned to me that his boat was dam-
aged," said Mrs. Foger gently, "and that he had
taken it to get fixed. Then, he said, he and some
friends were going on a little cruise and might
not be back to-night."
"Did he say where he was going?" asked our
hero, who did not tell Andy's mother why he
wanted to see her son.
"No, and I'm worried about him. Sometimes I
think Andy is too — well, too impetuous, and I'm
afraid he will get into trouble."
Tom, in spite of his trouble, could hardly for-
bear smiling. Andy's mother was totally unaware
of the mean traits of her son and thought him a
very fine chap. Tom was not going to undeceive
her.
"I'm afraid something will happen to him," she
A DAMAGING STATEMENT 12?
went on. "Do you think there is any danger being
out on the lake in a motor-boat, Mr. Swift? 1
understand you have one."
"Yes, I have one," answered Tom. He was
going to say he had once had one, but thought
better of it. "No, there is very little danger this
time of year," he added.
"I am very glad to hear you say so," went on
Mrs. Foger with a sigh. "I shall feel more at
ease when Andy is away now. When he returns
home, I shall tell him you called upon him and
he will return your visit. I am glad to see that
the custom of paying calls has not died out among
the present generation. It is a pleasant habit, and
I am glad to have my son conform to it. He shall
return your kind visit."
"Oh, no, it's of no consequence," replied Tom
quickly, thinking grimly that his visit was far
from a friendly one. "There is no need to tell
your son I was here. I will probably see him in
a day or two."
"Oh, but I shall tell him," insisted Mrs. Foger
with a kind smile. "I'm sure he will appreciate
your call."
There was much doubt concerning this in the
mind of the young inventor, but he did not ex-
press it and soon took his leave. Up and down
the lake for the rest of the day he cruised, looking
128 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
in vain for a sight of Andy Foger in the Red
Streak, but the racing boat appeared to be well
hidden.
"If I only could find where they've taken mine,"
mused Tom. "Hang it all, this is rotten luck!"
and for the first time he began to feel discouraged.
"Maybe you'd better notify the police," sug-
gested Mr. Jackson when Tom returned to the
Swift house that night. "They might help you
locate it."
"I think I can do as well as the police," an-
swered the youth. "If the boat is anywhere it's
on the lake, and the police have no craft in which
to make a search."
"That's so," agreed the engineer. "I wish I
could help you, but I don't believe it would be wise
for me to leave the house, especially since those
men have been about lately."
"No, you must stay here," was Tom's opinion.
"I'll take another day or two to search. By this
time Andy and his gang will return, I'm sure, and
I can tackle them."
"Suppose they don't?"
"Well, then I'll make a tour of the lake in my
sailboat and I'll run up to Sandport and tell dad,
for he will wonder what's keeping me. I'll know
better next time than to leave my boat at the dock
without taking1 out the connection at the spark
A DAMAGING STATEMENT 12$
coil, so no one can start the motor. I should have
done that at first, but you always think of those
things afterward."
The lad began his search again the next morn-
ing and cruised about in little bays and gulfs look-
ing for a sight of the Red Streak or the Arrow,
but he saw neither, and a call at Andy's house
showed that the red-haired youth had not re-
turned. Mrs. Foger was quite nervous over her
son's continued absence, but Mr. Foger thought
it was all right.
Another day passed without any results and the
young inventor was getting so nervous, partly
with worrying over the loss of his boat and partly
on his father's account, that he did not know what
to do.
"I can't stand it any longer," he announced to
Mrs. Baggert the night of the third day, after a
telephone message had been received from Mr.
Swift. The inventor wanted to know why his son
did not return to the hotel to join him and Ned.
"Well, what will you do?" asked the house-
keeper.
"If I don't find my boat to-morrow, I'll sail to
Sandport, bring home dad and Ned, and we three
will go all over the lake. My boat must be on it
somewhere, but Lake Carlopa is so cut up that it
could easily be hidden."
I30 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"It's queer that the Foger boy doesn't come
home. That makes it look as if he was guilty."
"Oh, I'm sure he took it all right," returned
Tom. "All I want is to see him. It certainly is
queer that he stays away as long as he does. Sam
Snedecker and Pete Bailey are with him, too. But
they'll have to return some time."
Tom dreamed that night of finding his boat and
that it was a wreck. He awoke, glad to find that
the latter part was not true, but wishing that some
of his night vision might come to pass during the
day.
He started out right after breakfast, and, as
usual, headed for the Foger home. He almost
disliked to ask Mrs. Foger if her son had yet
returned, for Andy's mother was so polite and so
anxious to know whether any danger threatened
that Tom hardly knew how to answer her. But
he was saved that embarrassment on this occa-
sion, for as he was going up the walk from the
lake to the residence he met the gardener and
from him learned that Andy had not yet come
back.
"But his mother had a message from him, I did
hear," went on the man. "He's on his way. It
seems he had some trouble."
"Trouble. What kind of trouble ?" asked Tom.
"I don't rightly know, sir, but/' and here the
A DAMAGING STATEMENT 131
gardener winked his eye, "Master Andy isn't par-
ticular what kind of trouble he gets into."
"That's right," agreed our hero, and as he went
down again to where he had left his boat he
thought : "Nor what kind of trouble he gets other
people into. I wish I had hold of him for about
five minutes !"
The sailboat swung slowly from the dock and
heeled over to the gentle breeze. Hardly knowing
what to do, Tom headed for the middle of the
lake. He was discouraged and tired of making
plans only to have them fail.
As he looked across the stretch of water he saw
a boat coming toward him. He shaded his eyes
with his hand to see better, and then, with a pair
of marine glasses, took an observation. He ut-
tered an exclamation.
"That's the Red Streak as sure as I'm alive !"
he cried. "But what's the matter with her?
They're rowing!"
The lad headed his boat toward the approaching
one. There was no doubt about it. It was Andy
Foger's craft, but it was not speeding forward
under the power of the motor. Slowly and labori-
ously the occupants were pulling it along, and as it
was not meant to be rowed, progress was very
slow.
"They've had a breakdown," thought Tom.
1 32 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Serves 'em right! Now wait till I tackle 'em
and find out where my boat is. I've a good notion
to have Andy Foger arrested !"
The sailing craft swiftly approached the motor-
boat Tom could see the three occupants looking
at him, apprehensively as well as curiously, he
thought.
"Guess they didn't think I'd keep after 'em,"
mused the young inventor, and a little later he was
beside the Red Streak.
"Well," cried Tom angrily, "it's about time you
came back !"
"We've had a breakdown," remarked Andy,
and he seemed quite humiliated. He was begin-
ning to find out that he didn't know as much about
a motor-boat as he thought he did.
"I've been waiting for you," went on Tom.
"Waiting for us? What for?" asked Sam
Snedecker.
"What for? As if you didn't know!" blurted
out the owner of the Arrow. "I want my boat,
Andy Foger, the one you stole from me and hid !
Tell me where it is at once or I'll have you ar-
rested!"
"Your boat !" repeated the bully, and there was
no mistaking the surprise in his tones.
"Yes, my boat! Don't try to bluff me like
that."
'A DAMAGING STATEMENT 133
"I'm not trying to bluff you. We've been away
three days and just got back."
"Yes, I know you have. You took my boat
with you, too."
"Are you crazy ?" demanded Pete Bailey.
"No, but you fellows must have been to think
you could take my boat and me not know it," and
Tom, filled with wrath, grasped the gunwale of
the Red Streak as if he feared it would suddenly
shoot away.
"Look here!" burst out Andy, and he spoke
sincerely, "we didn't touch your boat. Did we,
fellows?"
"No!" exclaimed Sam and Pete at once, and
they were very much in earnest.
"We didn't even know it was stolen, did we?"
went on Andy.
"No," agreed his chums. Tom looked uncon-
vinced.
"We haven't taken your boat and we can prove
it," continued the bully. "I know you and I have
had quarrels, but I'm telling you the truth, Tom
Swift. I never touched your boat."
There was no mistaking the sincerity of Andy.
He was not a skilful deceiver, and Tom, looking
into his squint-eyes, which were opened unusually
Wide, could not but help believing the fellow.
"We haven't seen it since the day we had the
134 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
collision," added Andy, and his chums confirmed
this statement.
"We went off on a little cruise," continued the
red-haired bully, "and broke down several times.
We had bad luck. Just as we were nearing home
something went wrong with the engine again. I
never saw such a poor motor. But we never took
your boat, Tom Swift, and we can prove it"
Tom was in despair. He had been so sure thai
Andy was the thief, that to believe otherwise wa?
difficult. Yet he felt that he must. He looked at
the disabled motor of the Red Streak and viewed
it with the interested and expert eye of a ma-
chinist, no matter if the owner of it was his enemy.
Then suddenly a brilliant idea came into Tom's
head.
CHAPTER XVI
STILL ON THE SEARCH
"You seem to have lots of trouble with your
boat, Andy," said Tom after a few moments of
rather embarrassed silence.
"I do," admitted the owner of the Red Streak.
"I've had bad luck ever since I got it, but usually
I've been able to fix it by looking in the book.
This time I can't find out what the trouble is, nor
can any of the fellows. It stopped when we were
out in the middle of the lake and we had to row.
I'm sick of motor-boating."
"Suppose I fix it for you?" went on Tom.
"If you do, I'll pay you well."
"I wouldn't do it for pay — not the kind you
mean," continued the young inventor.
"What do you mean then?" and Andy's face,
that had lighted up, became glum again.
"Well, if I fix your boat for you, will you let
me run it a little while ?"
"You mean show me how to run it?"
135
136 TOM SWIFT srtfD HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"No, I mean take it myself. Look here, Andy>
my boat's been stolen, and I thought you took it
to get even with me. You say you didn't "
"And I didn't touch it," interposed the squint-
eyed lad quickly.
"All right, I believe you. But somebody stole
it, and I think I know who."
"Who?" asked Sam Snedecker.
"Well, you wouldn't know if I told you, but I
suspect some men with whom I had trouble be-
fore," and Tom referred to Happy Harry and his
gang. "I think they have my boat on this lake,
and I'd like to get another speedy craft to cruise-
about it and make a further search. How about
it, Andy? If I fix your boat, will you let me take
it to look for my boat?"
"Sure thing!" agreed the bully quickly, and his
voice for once was friendly toward Tom. "Fix
the engine so it will run, and you can use the Red
Streak as long as you like."
"Oh, I probably wouldn't want it very long. I
could cover the lake in about three days, and I
hope by that time I could locate the thieves. Is
it a bargain ?"
"Sure," agreed Andy again, and Tom got into
the motor-boat to look at the engine. He found
that it would require some time to adjust it prop-
STILL ON THE SEARCH 137
erly and that it would be necessary to take the
motor apart.
"I think I'd better tow you to my dock," the
young inventor said to Andy. "I can use some
tools from the shop then, and by to-night I'll have
the Red Streak in running order."
The breeze was in the right quarter, fortunately,
and with the motor-boat dragging behind, the
^Arrow's owner put the nose of the sailing craft
toward his home dock.
When Tom reached his house he found that
Mrs. Baggert had received another telephone
message from Mr. Swift, inquiring why his son
had not returned to Sandport.
"He says if you don't come back by to-mor-
row," repeated the housekeeper, "that he'll come
home by train. He's getting anxious, I believe."
"Shouldn't wonder," admitted Tom. "But I
want him to stay there. The change will do him
good. I'll soon have my boat back, now that I
can go about the lake swiftly, and then I'll join
him. I'll tell him to be patient."
Tom talked with his father at some length, as-
suring him that everything was well at the Shop-
ton house and promising to soon be with him.
Then the young inventor began work on the mo-
tor of the Red Streak. He found it quite a job
and had to call on Mr. Jackson to help him, for
138 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
one of the pistons had to be repaired and a num-
ber of adjustments made to the cylinders.
But that night the motor was fully mended
and placed back in the boat. It was in better
shape than it had been since Andy had purchased
the craft.
"There," remarked Tom, "now I'm ready to
hunt for those scoundrels. Will you leave your
boat at my dock to-night, Andy ?"
"Yes, so you can start out early in the morn*
ing. I'm not going."
"Why not?" demanded Tom quickly.
'Well — er — you see I've had enough of motor-
ing for a while," explained Andy. "Besides, I
don't believe my mother would like me to go out
on a chase after thieves. If we had to shoot I
might hit one of them, and "
"Oh, I see," answered Tom. "But I don't like
to take your boat alone. Besides, I don't fancy
there will be much shooting. I know I'm not
going to take a gun. In fact, the one Mr. Duncan
gave me is in the boat. All I want is to get the
Arrow back."
"That's all right," went on Andy. "You take
my boat and use it as long as you like. I'll rest up
a few days. When you find your boat you can
bring mine back."
Tom understood. He was just as glad not to
STILL ON THE SEARCH 139
have Andy accompany him in the chase, as he
and the red-haired lad had never been good
friends and probably never would be. So it would
cause some embarrassment to be together in a
boat all day. Then again Tom knew he could
manage the Red Streak better alone, but, of
course, he did not want to mention this when he
asked for the loan of the craft. Andy's own
suggestion, however, had solved the difficulty.
Tom had an idea that Andy felt a little timid
about going in pursuit of the thieves, but naturally
it would not do to mention this, for the squint-
eyed lad considered himself quite a fighter.
Early the next morning, alone in the Red
Streak, Tom continued the search for his stolen
boat. He started out from his home dock and
mapped out a course that would take him well
around the lake.
"I s'pose I could take a run to Sandport now,"
mused the youth as he shot in and out of the
little bays, keeping watch for the Arrow. "But if
I do dad will have to be told all about it, and he'll
worry. Then, too, he might want to accompany
me, and I think I can manage this better alone,
for the Red Streak will run faster with only one
in. I ought to wind up this search in two days,
if my boat is still on the lake. And if those
140 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
scoundrels have sunk her I'll make them pay
for it."
On shot the speedy motor boat, in and out
along the winding shore line, with the lad in the
bow at the steering-wheel peering with eager eyes
into every nook and corner where his craft might
be hidden.
CHAPTER XVII
"THERE SHE is!"
ANTICIPATING that he would be some time on
his search, the young inventor had gone prepared
for it. He had a supply of provisions and he had
told Mrs. Baggert he might not be back that
night. But he did not intend to sleep aboard the
Red Streak, which, being a racing boat, was not
large enough to afford much room for passengers.
Tom had planned, therefore, to put up'at some
hotel near the lake in case his hunt should last
beyond one night.
That it would do this was almost certain, for
all that morning he searched unavailingly for the
Arrow. A distant mill whistle sounding over
Lake Carlopa told him it was noon.
Dinner time," he announced to himself. "Guess
I'll run up along shore in the shade and eat"
Selecting a place where the trees overhung the
water, forming a quiet, cool nook, Tom sent the
boat in there, and, tying it to a leaning tree, he
141
I42 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
began his simple meal. Various thoughts filled
his mind, but chief among them was the desire to
overtake the thieves who had his boat That it
was Happy Harry's gang he was positive.
The lad nearly finished eating and was consid*
•sring what direction he might best search in next
when he heard, running along a road that bor-
dered the lake, an automobile.
"Wonder who that it ?" mused Tom. "It won't
do any harm to take a look, for it might be some
of those thieves again. They probably still have
their auto or Happy Harry couldn't have gotten
from Sandport to Shopton so quickly."
The young inventor slipped ashore from the
motor-boat, taking care to make no noise. Steal-
ing silently along toward the road, he peered
through the underbrush for a sight of the ma-
chine, which seemed to be going slowly. But
before the youth had a glimpse of it he was made
aware who the occupant was by hearing some one
exclaim :
"Bless my shoe laces if this cantankerous con-
traption isn't going wrong again! I wonder if
it's going to have a fit here in this lonely place.
It acts just as if it was. Bless my very existence!
Hold on now. Be nice! be nice!"
"Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, and, without
knowing it, he had spoken aloud.
"THERE SHE IS!" 143
"Hold on there ! Hold on ! Who's calling me
in this forsaken locality? Bless my shirt studs!
But who is it?" and the eccentric man who had
sold Tom the motor-cycle looked intently at the
bushes.
"Here I am, Mr. Damon," answered the lad,
stepping out into the road. "I knew it was you
as soon as I saw you."
"Bless my liver, but that's very true! I sup-
pose you lieard my unfortunate automobile puff-
ing along. I declare I don't know what ails it. I
got it on the advice of my physician, who said I
must get out in the air, but, bless my gears, it's
the auto who needs a doctor more than I do ! It's
continually out of order. Something is going to
happen right away. I can tell by the way it's
behaving."
Mr. Damon had thrown out the clutch, but the
engine was still running, though in a jerky, uncer-
tain fashion which indicated to the trained ear of
the young inventor that something was wrong.
"Perhaps I can fix it for you as I did before/'
ventured Tom.
"Bless my eyebrows ! Perhaps you can/' cried
the eccentric man hopefully. "You always seem
to turn up at the right moment. How do you
manage it ?"
"I don't know. I remember the time you
144 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
turned up just when I wanted you to help me
capture Happy Harry and his gang, and now, by
a strange coincidence, I'm after them again."
"You don't say so ! My good gracious ! Bless
my hatband ! But that's odd. There !" he ejacu-
lated suddenly as the automobile engine stopped
with a choking sigh, "I knew something was
going to happen."
"Let me take a look," proposed the lad, and he
was soon busy peering into the interior of the
machine. At first he could not find the trouble,
but being a persistent youth, Tom went at it sys-
tematically and located it in two places. The
clutch was not rightly adjusted and the carbu-
retor float feed needed fixing.
The young inventor was not long in making
the slight repairs and then he assured Mr. Damon
that his automobile would run properly.
"Bless my very existence, but what a thing it
is to have a head for mechanics !" exclaimed the
odd man gratefully. "Now it would bother me
to adjust a nutmeg grater if it got out of order,
but I dare say you could fix it in no time."
"Yes," answered Tom, "I could and so could
you, for there's nothing about it to fix. But you
can go ahead now if you wish."
"Thank you. It just shows how ignorant I
am of machinery. I presume something will #o
"THERE SHE IS!" 145
wrong in another mile or two. But may I ask
what you are doing here? I presume you are in
your motor-boat, sailing about for pleasure. And
didn't I understand you to say you were after
those chaps again ? Bless my watch charm, but I
was so interested in my machine that I didn't
think to ask you."
"Yes, I am after those thieves again."
"In your motor-boat, I presume. Well, I hope
you catch them. What have they stolen now ?"
"My motor-boat. That's why I'm after them,
but I had to borrow a craft to chase them with."
"Bless my soul ! You don't tell me ! How did
it happen?"
Thereupon the lad related as much of the story
as was necessary to put Mr. Damon in possession
of the facts and he ended up with :
"I don't suppose you have seen anything of the
men in my boat, have you ?"
Mr. Damon seemed strangely excited. He had
entered his auto, but as the lad's story progressed
the odd gentleman had descended. When Tom
finished he exclaimed:
"Don't say a word now — not a word. I want
to think, and that is a process which, for me, re-
quires a little time. Don't speak a word now.
Bless my left hand, but I think I can help you !"
He frowned, stamped first one foot, then the
"146 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
other, looked up at the sky, as if seeking inspira-
tion there, and then down at the ground, as if
that would help him to think. Then he clapped
his hands smartly together and cried out:
"Bless my shoe buttons !"
"Have you seen them ?" asked Tom eagerly.
"Was your boat one with a red arrow painted
on the bow ?" asked Mr. Damon in turn.
"It was!" and the lad was now almost as ex-
cited as was his friend.
"Then I've seen it, and, what's more, this
morning! Bless my spark plug, I've seen it!"
"Tell me about it !" pleaded the young inventor,
and Mr. Damon, calming himself after an effort,
resumed :
"I was out for an early spin in my auto," he
said, "and was traveling along a road that bor-
dered the lake, about fifteen miles above here. I
heard a motor-boat puffing along near shore, and,
looking through the trees, I saw one containing
three men. It had a red arrow on the bow, and
that's why I noticed it, because I recalled that
'our boat was named the Dart"
"Arrow" corrected Tom.
"The Arrow. Oh, yes, I knew it was some-
thing like that. Well, of course at the time I
didn't think that it was your boat, but I asso-
"THERE SHE IS!" 147
cited it in my mind with yours. Do you catch
my meaning ?"
Tom did and said so, wishing Mr. Damon
would hurry and get to the point. But the eccen-
tric character had to do things in his own way.
"Exactly," he resumed. "Well, I didn't think
that was your boat, but, at the same time, I
watched the men out of curiosity, and I was
struck with their behavior. They seemed to be
quarreling, and, from what I could hear, two of
them seemed to be remonstrating with the third
one for having taken some sort of a piece of
wood from the forward compartment. I believe
that is the proper term."
"Yes !" Tom almost shouted. "But where did
they go ? What became of them ? What was the
man doing to the forward compartment — where
the gasoline tank is ?"
"Exactly. I was trying to think what was kept
there. That's it, the gasoline tank. Well, the
boat kept on up the lake, and I don't know what
became of the men. But about that piece of wood.
It seems that, one of the men removed a block
from under the tank and the others objected.
That's why they were quarreling."
"That's very strange," exclaimed the lad.
"There must be some mystery about my boat that
I don't understand. But that will keep until I
148 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
get the boat itself. Good-by, Mr. Damon. I
must be off."
"Where to?"
"Up the lake after those thieves. I must lose
no time/ 'and Tom started to go back to where
he had left the Red Streak.
"Hold on !" cried Mr. Damon. "I have some-
thing to propose, Tom. Two heads are better
than one, even if one doesn't know how to adjust
a nutmeg grate. Suppose I come along with you ?
I can point out the direction the men took, at any
rate."
"I'll be very glad to have you," answered the
lad, who felt that he might need help if there
were three of the thieves in his craft. "But what
will you do with your automobile ?"
"I'll just run it down the road a way to where
a friend oi mine has a stable. Ill leave it in
there and join you. Will you let me come? Bless
my eye glasses, but I'd like to help catch those
scoundrels !"
"I'll be very glad to have you. Go ahead, put
the auto in the barn and I'll wait for you."
"I have a better plan than that," replied Mr.
Damon. "Run your boat down to that point,"
and he indicated one about a mile up the lake.
"I'll be there waiting for you, and we'll lose no
"THERE SHE IS'" 149
time. I can cover the ground faster in my auto
than you can in your boat."
Tom saw the advantage of this and was soon
under way, while he heard on shore the puffing
of his friend's car. On the trip to the point Tom
puzzled over the strange actions of the man in
taking one of the braces from under the gasoline
tank.
"I'll wager he did it before," thought the lad.
"It must be the same person who was tampering
with the lock of the forward compartment the
day I bought the boat. But why — that's the ques-
tion— why ?"
He could find no answer to this, puzzle over it
as he did, and he gave it up. His whole desire
now was to get on the trail of the thieves, and he
had strong hopes, after the clew Mr. Damon had
given him. The latter was waiting for him on the
point, and so nimble was the owner of the auto,
in spite of his size, that Tom was not delayed
more than the fraction of a minute ere he was
under way again, speeding up the lake.
"Now keep well in toward shore," advised Mr.
Damon. "Those fellows don't want to be ob-
served any more than they can help, and they'll
sneak along the bank. They were headed in that
direction," and he pointed it out. "Now I hope
you won't think I'm in the way. Besides, you
150 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
know, if you get your boat back, you'll want
some one to help steer it, while you run this one.
I can do that, at all events, bless my very exist-
ence!"
"I am very glad of your help," replied the lad,
but he did not take his eyes from the water before
him, and he was looking for a sight of his boat
with the men in it.
For three hours or more Tom and Mr. Damon
cruised in and out along the shore of the lake,
going farther and farther up the body of water.
Tom was beginning to think that he would reach
Sandport without catching sight of the thieves,
and he was wondering if, after all, he might not
better stop off and see his father when, above the
puffing of the motor in the Red Streak, he heard
the put-put of another boat.
"Listen !" cried Mr. Damon, who had heard it
at the same time.
Tom nodded.
"They're just ahead of us/' whispered his com-
panion.
"If it's them," was the lad's reply.
"Speed up and we'll soon see," suggested Mr.
Damon, and Tom shoved the timer over. The
Red Streak forged ahead. The sound of the
other boat came more plainly now. It was be-
yond a little point of land. The young inventor
"THERE SHE 1ST 151
steered out to get around it and leaned eagerly
forward to catch the first glimpse of the unseen
craft. Would it prove to be the Arrow?
The put-put became louder now. Mr. Damon
was standing up, as if that would, in some mys-
terious way, help. Then suddenly the other boat
came into view. Tom saw it in an instant and
knew it for the Arrow.
"There she is !" he cried.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE PURSUIT
FOR an instant after Tom's exultant cry the
men in the boat ahead were not aware that they
were being pursued. Then, as the explosions
from the motor of the Red Streak sounded over
the water, they turned to see who was coming up
behind them. There was no mistaking the atti-
tude of the young inventor and his companion.
They were leaning eagerly forward, as if they
could reach out and grasp the criminals who were
fleeing before them.
"Put on all the speed you can, Tom !" begged
Mr. Damon. "We'll catch the scoundrels now.
Speed up the motor ! Oh, if I only had my auto-
mobile now. "Bless my crank shaft, but one can
go so much faster on land than on water."
The lad did not reply, but thought, with grim
humor, that running an automobile over Lake
Carlopa would be no small feat. Mr. Damon,
however, knew what he was saying.
152
THE PURSUIT 153
"We'll catch them! We'll nab 'em!" he cried.
"Speed her up, Tom."
The youth was doing his best with the motor
of the Red Streak. He was not as well acquainted
with it as he was with the one in his boat, but he
knew, even better than Andy Foger, how to make
it do efficient work. It a foregone conclusion that
the Red Streak, if rightly handled, could beat the
Arrow, but there were several points in favor of
the thieves. The motor of Tom's boat was in per-
fect order, and even an amateur, with some knowl-
edge of a boat, could make it do nearly its best.
On the other hand, the Red Streak's machinery
needed "nursing." Again, the thieves had a good
start, and that counted for much. But Tom
counted on two other points. One was that Happy
Harry and his gang would probably know little
about the fine points of a motor. They had shown
this in letting the motor of the boat they had first
stolen get out of order, and Tom knew the ins
and outs of a gasoline engine to perfection. So
the chase was not so hopeless as it seemed.
"Do you think you can catch them ?" asked Mr.
Damon anxiously.
"I'm going to make a big try," answered his
companion.
"They're heading out into the middle of the
lake !" cried the eccentric man.
154 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"If they do, I can cut them off!" murmure3
Tom as he put the wheel over.
But whoever was steering the Arrow knew bet-
ter than to send it on a course that would enable
the pursuing boat to cut across and shorten the
distance to it. After sending the stolen craft far
enough out from shore to clear points of land that
jutted out into the lake, the leading boat was sent
straight ahead.
"A stern chase and a long chase!" murmured
Mr. Damon. "Bless my rudder, but those fellows
are not going to give up easily."
"I guess not," murmured Tom. "Will you
steer for a while, Mr. Damon ?"
"Of course I will. If I could get out and pull
the boat after me, to make it go faster, I would.
But as I always lose my breath when I run, per-
haps it's just as well that I stay in here."
Tom thought so too, but his attention was soon
given to the engine. He adjusted the timer to
get if possible a little more speed out of the boat
he had borrowed from Andy, and he paid particu-
lar attention to the oiling system.
"We're going a bit faster !" called Mr. Damoni
encouragingly, "or else they're slacking up."
Tom peered ahead to see if this was so. It was
hard to judge whether he was overhauling the
'Arrow, as it was a stern chase, and that is always
THE PURSUIT 155
difficult to judge. But a glimpse along shore
showed him that they were slipping through the
water at a faster speed.
"They're up to something !" suddenly exclaimed
Mr. Damon a moment later. "I believe they're
going to fire on us, Tom. They are pointing
something this way."
The lad stood up and gazed earnestly at his
boat, which seemed to be slipping away from him
so fast. One of the occupants was in the stern,
aiming some glittering object at those in the Red
Streak. For a moment Tom thought it might be
a gun. Then, as the man turned, he saw what
it was.
"A pair of marine glasses !" cried the lad.
'They're trying to make out who we are."
"I guess they know well enough," rejoined Mr.
Damon. "Can't you go any faster, Tom?"
"I'm afraid not. But we'll land them, sooner
r>r later. They can't go very far in this direction
without running ashore and we'll have them.
They're cutting across the lake now."
"They may escape us if it gets dark. Probably
that's what they're working for. They want to
keep ahead of us until nightfall."
The young inventor thought of this too, but
there was little he could do. The motor was run-
ning at top speed. It could be made to go faster,
156 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
Tom knew, with another ignition system, but that
was out of the question now.
The man with the glasses had resumed his seat,
and the efforts of the trio seemed concentrated on
the motor of the Arrow. They, too, wished to go
faster. But they had not skill enough to accom-
plish it, and in about ten minutes, when Tom took
another long and careful look to ascertain if pos-
sible whether or not he was overhauling the
thieves, he was delighted to see that the distance
between the boats had lessened.
"We're catching them ! We're creeping up on
them !" cried Mr. Damon. "Keep it up, Tom."
There was nothing to do, however, save wait.
The boat ahead had shifted her course somewhat
and was now turning in toward the shore, for the
lake was narrow at this point, and abandoning
their evident intention of keeping straight up the
lake, the thieves seemed no bent on something
else.
"I believe they're going to run ashore and get
out!" cried Mr. Damon.
"If they do, it's just what I want," declared the
lad. "I don't care for the men. I want my boat
back!"
The occupants of the Arrow were looking to
the rear again, and one — Happy Harry, Tom
thought — shook his fist
THE PURSUIT 157
"Ah, wait until I get hold of you !" cried Mr.
Damon, following his example. "I'll make you
wish you'd behaved yourselves, you scoundrels!
Bless my overcoat ! Catch them if you can, Tom."
There was now no doubt of the intention of the
fleeing ones. The shore was looming up ahead
and straight for it was headed the Arrow. Tom
sent Andy's boat in the same direction. He was
rapidly overhauling the escaping ones now, for
they had slowed down the motor. Three minutes
later the foremost boat grated on the beach of the
lake. The men leaped out, one of them pausing
an instant in the bow.
"Here, don't you damage my boat !" cried Tom
involuntarily, for the man seemed to be hammer-
f-ng something.
The fellow leaped over the side, holding some-
thing in his hand.
"There they go! Catch them!" yelled Mr.
Damon.
"Let them go!" answered the lad as the men
ran toward the wood. "I want my boat. I'm
afraid they've damaged her. One of them tore
something from the bow."
At the same instant the two companions of the
fellow who had paused in the forward part of the
Arrow saw that he had something in his hand.
With yells of rage they dashed at him, but he^
158 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
shaking his fist at them, plunged into the bushes
and could be heard breaking his way through,
while his companions were in pursuit.
"They've quarreled among themselves," com-
mented Mr. Damon as high and angry voices
could be heard from the woods. "There's some
mystery here, Tom."
"I don't doubt it, but my first concern is for
my boat. I want to see if they have damaged
her."
Tom had run so closely in shore with the Red
Streak that he had to reverse to avoid damaging
the craft against the bank. In a mass of foam he
stopped her in time, and then springing ashore,
he hurried to his motor-boat.
CHAPTER XIX
A QUIET CRUISE
"HAVE they done any damage?" asked Mr.
Damon as he stood in the bow of the Red Streak.
Tom did not answer for a moment. His trained
eye was looking over the engine.
"They yanked out the high tension wire in-
stead of stopping the motor with the switch/' he
answered at length, and then, when he had taken
a look into the compartment where the gasoline
tank was, he added : "And they've ripped out two
more of the braces I put in. Why in the world
they did that I can't imagine/'
"That's evidently what one man had that the
others wanted/' was Mr. Damon's opinion.
"Probably," agreed Tom. "But what could he
or they want with wooden braces ?"
That was a puzzler for Mr. Damon, but he an-v'
swered :
"Perhaps they wanted to damage your boat and
those two men were mad because the other got
ahead of them."
159
160 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
'Taking out the braces wouldn't do much dam-
age. I can easily put others in. All it would do
would be to cause the tank to sag down and maybe
cause a leak in the pipe. But that would be a
queer thing to do. No, I think there's some mys-
tery that I haven't gotten to the bottom of yet.
But I'm going to."
"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I'll help
you. But can you run your boat back home ?"
"Not without fixing it a bit. I must brace up
that tank and put in a new high tension wire from
the spark coil. I can do it here, but I'd rather
take it to the shop. Besides, with two boats to
run back, for I must return Andy's to him, I don't
see how I can do it very well unless you operate
one, Mr. Damon."
"Excuse me, but I can't do it. Bless my slip-
pers, but I would be sure to run on a rock ! The
best plan will be for you to tow your boat and
I'll ride in it and steer. I can do that much, any-
how. You can ride in the Red Streak.
Tom agreed that this would be a good plan.
So, after temporarily bracing up the tank in the
Arrow, it was shoved out into the lake and at-
tached to Andy's craft.
"But aren't you going to make a search for
those men?" asked Mr. Damon when Tom was
ready to start back.
A QUIET CRUISE 161
"No, I think it would be useless. They are
well away by this time, and I don't fancy chasing
them through the woods, especially as night is
coming on. Besides, I won't leave these boats."
"No doubt you are right, but I would like to
see them punished, and I am curious enough to
wish to know what object that scoundrel could
have in ripping out the blocks that served as a
brace for the tank."
"I feel the same way myself," commented the
lad, "especially since this is the second time that's
happened. But we'll have a wait, I guess."
A little later the start back was made, Mr.
Damon steering the Arrow skilfully enough so
that it did not drag on the leading boat, in which
Tom rode. His course took him not far from the
lake sanitarium, where Mr. Duncan, the hunter,
had been brought, and desiring to know how the
wounded man was getting on, the youth proposed
that they make a halt, explaining to Mr. Damon
his reason.
"Yes, and while you're about it you'd better
telephone your father that you will join him to-
morrow," suggested the other. "I know what it
is to fret and worry. You can fix your boat up in
time to go to Sandport to-morrow, can't you ?"
"Yes, I'm glad you reminded me of it. I'll tele-
phone from the sanitarium, if they'll let me."
162 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
Mr. Duncan was not at the institution, Tom
was told, his injury having healed sufficiently to
allow of his being removed to his home. The
youth readily secured permission to use the tele-
phone, and was soon in communication with Mr.
Swift. While not telling him all the occurrences
that had delayed him, Tom gave his father and
Ned Newton enough information to explain his
absence. Then the trip to Shopton was resumed
in the two boats.
"What are you going to do about your automo-
bile?" asked Tom as they neared the point where
the machine had been left.
"Never mind about that," replied Mr. Damon.
"It will do it good to have a night's vacation. I
will go on to your house with you, and perhaps I
can get a train back to my friend's home, so that
I can claim my car."
"Won't you stay all night with me?" invited
the young inventor. "I'd be glad to have you."
Mr. Damon agreed, and, Tom putting more
speed on the Red Streak, was soon opposite his
own dock. The Arrow was run in the boathouse
and the owner hastily told Mrs. Baggert and the
engineer what had occurred. Then he took Andy's
boat to Mr. Foger's dock and warmly thanked the
red-haired lad for the use of his craft.
A QUIET CRUISE 163
"Did you find your boat?" asked Andy eagerly.
"How did the Red Streak run?"
"I got my boat and yours run fine," explained
Tom.
"Good ! I'll race you again some day," declared
Andy.
Mr. Damon enjoyed his visit at our hero's
house, for Mrs. Baggert cooked one of her best
suppers for him. Tom and the engineer spent
the evening repairing the motor-boat, Mr. Damon
looking on and exclaiming "Bless my shoe
leather" or some other part of his dress or an-
atomy at every stage of the work. The engineer
wanted to know all about the men and their
doings, but he could supply no reason for their
queer actions regarding the braces under the gaso-
line tank.
In the morning Tom once more prepared for an
early start for Sandport, and Mr. Damon, recon-
sidering his plans, rode as far with him as the
place where the automobile had been left. There
he took leave of the young inventor, promising to
call on Mr. Swift in the near future.
"I hope you arrive at the hotel where your
father is without any more accidents," remarked
the automobilist "Bless my very existence, but
you seem to have the most remarkable series of
adventures I ever heard of I"
164 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
'They are rather odd," admitted Tom. "I
don't know that I particularly care for them,
either. But, now that I have my boat back, I
guess everything will be all right."
But Tom could not look ahead. He was
destined to have still more exciting times, as pres-
ently will be related.
Without further incident he arrived at the Lake-
view Hotel in Sandport that evening and found
his father and Ned very glad to see him. Of
course he had to explain everything then, and,
with his son safely in his sight, Mr. Swift was not
so nervous over the recital as he would have been
had Tom not been present.
"Now for some nice, quiet trips," remarked the
lad when he had finished his account "I feel as
if I had cheated you out of part of your vacation,
Ned, staying away as long a*s I did."
"Well, of course we missed you," answered his
chum. "But your father and I had a good time."
"Yes, and I invented a new attachment for a
kitchen boiler," added Mr. Swift. "I had a
chance for it when I passed through the hotel
kitchen one day, for I wanted to see what kind of
a range they used."
"I guess there's no stopping you from invent-
ing," replied his son with a laugh and a hopeless
A QUIET CRUISE 165
shake of the head. "But don't let it happen again
when you go away to rest."
"Oh, I only just thought of it," said Mr. Swift
"I haven't worked the details out yet."
Then he wanted to know about everything at
home and he seemed particularly anxious lest the
Happy Harry gang do some damage.
"I don't believe they will," Tom assured him.
"Garret and Mrs. Baggert will be on guard."
The next few days were pleasant ones for Tom,
his father and Ned Newton. They cruised about
the lake, went fishing and camped in the woods.
Even Mr. Swift spent one night in the tent and
said he liked it very much. For a week the three
led an ideal existence, doing about as they pleased,
Ned taking a number of photographs with his new
camera. The Arrow proved herself a fine boat,
and Tom and Ned, when Mr. Swift did not ac-
company them, explored the seldom visited parts
of Lake Carlopa.
The three had been out one day and were dis-
cussing the necessity of returning home soon when
Ned spoke.
"I shall hate to give up this life and go to slav-
ing in the bank again," he complained. "I wish
I was an inventor."
"Oh, we inventors don't have such an easy
time," said Mr. Swift. "You never know when
166 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
trouble is coming," and he little imagined how
near the truth he was.
A little later they were at the hotel dock. When
Tom had tied up his boat the three walked up the
path to the broad veranda that faced the lake. A
boy in uniform met them.
"Some one has just called you on the telephone,
Mr. Swift," he reported.
"Some one wants me ? Who is it ?"
"I think he said his name is Jackson, sir, Garret
Jackson, and he says the message is very impor-
tant."
"Tom, something has happened at home!" ex-
claimed the inventor as he hurried up the steps.
"I'm afraid there's bad news."
Unable to still the fear in his heart, Tom fol-
lowed his father.
CHAPTER XX
NEWS OF A ROBBERY
WITH a hand that trembled so he could scarcely
hold the receiver of the telephone, Mr. Swift
placed it to his ear.
"Hello! hello!" he cried into the transmitter.
"Yes, this is Mr. Swift— yes, Garret. What
is it?"
Then came a series of clicks, which Tom and
Ned listened to. The inventor spoke again.
"What's that ! The same men ? Broke in early
this evening? Oh, that's too bad! Of course,
I'll come at once."
There followed more meaningless clicks, which
Tom wished he could translate. His father hung
up the receiver, turned to him and exclaimed :
"I've been robbed again 1"
"Robbed again! How, dad?"
"By that same rascally gang, Garret thinks.
.This evening, when he and Mrs. Baggert were id
Hie house the burglar alarm went off. The indi~
167
168 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
cator showed that the electrical shop had been en-
tered, and the engineer hurried there. He saw a
light inside and the shadows of persons on the
windows. Before he could reach the shop, how-
ever, the thieves heard him coming and escaped/
Oh, Tom, I should never have come away !"
"But did they take anything, dad? Perhaps
Garret frightened them away before they had a
chance to steal any of your things. Did you ask
him that?"
"I didn't need to. He said he made a hasty ex-
amination before he called me up, and he is sure a
number of my electrical inventions are missing.
Some of them are devices I never have had pat-
ented, and if I lose them I will have no recovery."
"But just what ones are they? Perhaps we
can send out a police alarm to-night."
"Garret couldn't tell that," answered Mr. Swift
as he paced to and fro in the hotel office. "He
doesn't know all the tools and machinery I had
in there. But it is certain that some of my
most valuable things have been taken."
"Never mind. Don't worry, dad," and Tom
tried to speak soothingly, for he saw that his
father was much excited. "We may be able to get
them back. How does Garret know the same men
who stole the turbine model broke in the shop this
evening ?"
NEWS OF A ROBBERY 169
"He saw them. One was Happy Harry, he is
positive. The others he did not know, but he
recognized the tramp from our description of
him."
"Then we must tell the police at once."
"Yes, Tom, I wish you would telephone. I'll
give you a description of the things. No, I can't
do that either, for I don't know what was stolen.
I must go home at once to find out. It's a good
thing the motor-boat is here. Come, let's start at
once. What is my bill here?" and the inventor
turned to the hotel proprietor, who had come into
the office. "I have suffered a severe loss and must
leave at once."
"I am very sorry, sir. I'll have it ready for you
m a few minutes."
"All right. Tom, is you boat ready for a quick
irip?"
"Yes, dad, but I don't like to make it at night
with three in. Of course it might be perfectly
safe, but there's a risk, and I don't like to take it."
"Don't worry about the risk on my account,
Tom. I'm not afraid. I must get home and see
of what I have been robbed."
The young inventor was in a quandary. He
wanted to do as his father requested and to aid
him all he could, yet he knew that an all-night
trip in the boat down the lake would be dangerous,
170 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
not only from the chance of running on an un-
known shore or into a hidden rock, but because
Mr. Swift was not physically fitted to stand the
journey.
"Come, Tom," exclaimed the aged inventor im-
patiently, "we must start at once !"
"Won't morning do as well, dad?"
"No, I must start now. I could not sleep
worrying over what has happened. We will
start "
At that instant there came a low, rumbling peat
of thunder. Mr. Swift started and peered from a
window. There came a flash of lightning and
another vibrant report from the storm-charged
clouds.
"There is your bill, Mr. Swift," remarked the
proprietor, coming up, "but I would not advise
you to start to-night. There is a bad storm in
the west, and it will reach here in a few minutes.
Storms on Lake Carlopa, especially at this open
and exposed end, are not to be despised, I assure
you."
"But I must get home !" insisted Tom's father.
The lace curtain over the window blew almost
straight out with a sudden breeze, and a flash of
lightning so bright that it reflected even in the
room where the incandescent electrics were glow-
ing made several others jump. Then came a
NEWS OF A ROBBERY 171
mighty crash, and with that the flood-gates of the
storm were opened, and the rain came down in
torrents. Tom actually breathed a sigh of relief.
The problem was solved for him. It would be im-
possible to start to-night, and he was glad of it,
much as he wanted to get on the trail of the
thieves.
There was a scurrying on the part of the hotel
attendants to close the windows, and the guests
who had been enjoying the air out on the porches
came running in. With a rush, a roar and a mut-
tering, as peal after peal of thunder sounded, the
deluge continued.
"It's a good thing we didn't start," observed
Ned.
"I should say so/' agreed Tom. "But we'll
get off the first thing in the morning, dad."
Mr. Swift did not reply, but his nervous pacing
to and fro in the hotel office showed how anxious
he was to be at home again. There was no help
for it, however, and, after a time, finding that to
think of reaching his house that night was out of
the question, the inventor calmed down somewhat
The storm continued nearly all night, as Tom
could bear witness, for he did not sleep well, nor
did his father. And when he came down to break-
fast in the morning Mr. Swift plainly showed the
effects of the bad news. His face was haggard
172 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
and drawn and his eyes smarted and burned from
lack of sleep.
"Well, Tom, we must start early," he said ner-
vously. "I am glad it has cleared off. Is the
boat all ready?"
"Yes, and it's a good thing it was under sheltei
last night or we'd have to bail it out now, and that
would delay us."
An hour later they were under way, having tele-
phoned to the engineer at the Swift home that
they were coming. Garret Jackson reported over
the wire that he had notified the Shopton police of
the robbery, but that little could be done until the
inventor arrived to give a description of the stolen
articles.
"And that will do little good, I fear," remarked
Tom. "Those fellows have evidently been plan-
ning this for some time and will cover their tracks
well. I'd like to catch them, not only to recover
your things, dad, but to find out the mystery of
my boat and why the man took the tank braces."
CHAPTER XXI
THE BALLOON ON FIRE
DOWN Lake Carlopa speeded the Arrow, those
on board watching the banks slip past as the
motor-boat rapidly cut through the water.
"What time do you think we ought to reach
home, Tom?' 'asked Mr. Swift.
"Oh, about four o'clock, if we don't stop for
lunch."
"Then we'll not stop," decided the inventor.
"We'll eat what we have on board. I suppose you
have some rations ?" and he smiled, the first time
since hearing the bad news.
"Oh, yes, Ned and I didn't eat everything on
our camping trips," and Tom was glad to note
that the fine weather which followed the storm
was having a good effect on his father.
"We certainly had a good time," remarked
Ned. "I don't know when I've enjoyed a vaca-
tion so."
"It's too bad it had to be cut short by this rot>-
bery," commented Mr. Swift
173
174 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Oh, well, my time would be up in a few days
more," went on the young bank employe. "It's
just as well to start back now."
Tom took the shortest route he knew, keeping
in as close to shore as he dared, for now he was
as anxious to get home as was his father. On and
on speeded the Arrow, yet fast as it was, it seemed
slow to Mr. Swift, who, like all nervous persons,
always wanted to go wherever he desired to go
instantly.
Tom headed his boat around a little point of
land, and was urging the engine to the top notch
of speed, for now he was on a clear course, with
no danger from shoals or hidden rocks, when he
saw, darting out from shore, a tiny craft which
somehow seemed familiar to him. He recognized
a peculiar put-putter of the motor.
"That's the Dot," he remarked in a low voice to
Ned, "Miss Nestor's cousin's boat"
"Is she in it now?" asked Ned.
"Yes," answered Torn quickly.
"You've got good eyesight," remarked Ned
dryly, "to tell a girl at that distance. It looks to
me like a boy."
"No, it's Mary — I mean Miss Nestor," the
youth quickly corrected himself, and a close ob-
server would have noticed that he blushed a bit
tinder his coat of tan.
THE BALLOON ON FIRE 175
Ned laughed, Tom blushed still more, and Mr.
Swift, who was in a stern seat, glanced up quickly.
"It looks as if that boat wanted to hail us," the
inventor remarked.
Tom was thinking the same thing, for, though
he had changed his course slightly since sighting
the Doty the little craft was put over so as to meet
him. Wondering what Miss Nestor could want,
but being only too willing to have a chat with her,
the young inventor shifted his helm. In a short
time the two craft were within hailing distance.
"How do you do?" called Miss Nestor, as she
slowed down her motor. "Don't you think I'm
improving, Mr. Swift?"
"What's that? I — er — I beg your pardon, but
I didn't catch that," exclaimed the aged inventor
quickly, coming out of a sort of day-dream. "I
beg your pardon." He thought she had addressed
him.
Miss Nestor blushed and looked questioningly
at Tom.
"My father," he explained as he introduced his
parent. Ned needed none, having met Miss Nes-
tor before. "Indeed you have improved very
much," went on our hero. "You seem able to
manage the boat all alone."
"Yes, I'm doing pretty well. Dick lets me take
the Dot whenever I want to, and I thought I'd
176 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
come out for a little trial run this morning1. I'm
getting ready for the races. I suppose you are
going to enter them?" and she steered her boat
ilongside Tom's, who throttled down his power-
ful motor so as not to pass his friend.
"Races? I hadn't heard of them," he replied.
"Oh, indeed there are to be fine ones under the
auspices of the Lanton Motor Club. Mr. Hast-
ings, of whom you bought that boat, is going to
enter his new Carlopa, and Dick has entered the
Dot, in the baby class of course. But I'm going
to run it, and that's why I'm practicing."
"I hope you win," remarked Tom. "I hadn't
heard of the races, but I think I'll enter. I'm glad
you told me. Do you want to race now ?" and he
laughed as he looked into the brown eyes of Mary
Nestor.
"No, indeed, unless you give me a start of sev-
eral miles."
They kept together for some little time longer,
and then, as Tom knew his father would be rest-
less at the slow speed, he told Miss Nestor the
need of haste, and, advancing his timer, he soon
left the Dot behind. The girl called a laughing
good-by and urged him not to forget the races,
which were to take place in about two weeks.
"I suppose Andy Foger will enter his boat,"
commented Ned.
THE BALLOON ON FIRE 177
"Naturally," agreed Tom. "It's a racer, and
he'll probably think it can beat anything on the
lake. But if he doesn't manage his motor differ-
ently, it won't."
The distance from Sandport to Shopton had
been more than half covered at noon, when the
travelers ate a lunch in the boat. Mr. Swift was
looking anxiously ahead to catch the first glimpse
of his dock and Tom was adjusting the machinery
as finely as he dared to get out of it the maximum
speed.
Ned Newton, who happened to be gazing aloft,
wondering at the perfect beauty of the blue sky
after the storm, uttered a sudden exclamation.
Then he arose and pointed at some object in the
air.
"Look!" he cried, "a balloon! It must have
gone up from some fair."
Tom and his father looked upward. High in
the air, almost over their heads, was an immense
balloon. It was of the hot-air variety, such as per-
formers use in which to make ascensions from fair
grounds and circuses, and below it dangled a
trapeze, upon which could be observed a man, only
he looked more like a doll than a human being.
"I shouldn't like to be as high as that," re-
marked Ned.
"I would," answered Tom as he slowed down
178 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
the engine the better to watch the balloon. "I'd
like to go up in an airship, and I intend to some
day."
"I believe he's going to jump!" suddenly ex-
Maimed Ned after a few minutes. "He's going to
do something, anyhow."
"Probably come down in a parachute," said
Tom. "They generally do that."
"No! no!" cried Ned. "He isn't going to
jump. Something has happened ! The balloon is
on fire ! He'll be burned to death !"
Horror stricken, they all gazed aloft. From the
mouth of the balloon there shot a tongue of fire,
and it was followed by a cloud of black smoke.
The big bag was getting smaller and seemed to be
descending, while the man on the trapeze was
hanging downward by his hands to get as far as
possible away from the terrible heat.
CHAPTER XXII
THE RESCUE
"JUMP ! jump !" cried Mr. Swift, leaping to his
feet and motioning to the man on the trapeze of
the balloon. But it is doubtful whether or not the
performer heard him. Certainly he could not set
the frantic motions of the inventor. "Why
doesn't he jump ?" Mr. Swift went on piteously to
the two lads. "He'll surely be burned to death if
he hangs on there !"
"It's too far to leap !" exclaimed Tom. "He's a
good way up in the air, though it looks like only a
short distance. He would be killed if he dropped
now."
"He ought to have a parachute," added Ned.
"Most of those men do when they go up in a bal-
loon. Why doesn't he come down in that? I
wonder how the balloon took fire?"
"Maybe he hasn't a parachute," suggested Tom,
while he slowed down the motor-boat still more
so as to remain very nearly under the blazing
balloon.
179
l8o TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Yes, he has!" cried Ned. "See, it's hanging
to one side of the big bag-. He ought to cut loose.
He could save himself then. Why doesn't he?"
The balloon was slowly twisting about, gradu-
ally settling to the surface of the lake, but all the
while the flames were becoming fiercer and the
black clouds of smoke increased in size.
"There, see the parachute!" went on Ned.
The twisting of the bag had brought into view
the parachute or big, umbrella-shaped bag, which
would have enabled the man to safely drop to the
surface of the lake. Without it he would have hit
the water with such force that he would have been
killed as surely as if he had struck the solid earth.
But the boys and Mr. Swift also saw something
else, and this was that the balloon was on fire on
the same side where the parachute was suspended.
"Look ! look !" shouted Tom, bringing his boat
to a stop. "That's why he can't jump ! He can't
reach the parachute !"
By this time the balloon had settled so low
that the actions of the man could be plainly seen.
That he was in great agony of fear, as well as in
great pain from the terrific heat over his head was
evident. He shifted about on the trapeze bar, now
hanging by one hand, so as to bring his body a
little farther below the blazing end of the bag,
then, when one arm tired, he would hang by the
THE RESCUE 181
other. If the balloon would only come down more
quickly it would get to within such a short dis-
tance of the water that the man could safely make
the drop.
But the immense canvas bag was settling so
slowly, for it was still very buoyant, that consider-
able time must elapse before it would be near
enough to the water to make it safe for the unfor-
tunate man to let go the trapeze.
"Oh, if we could only do something !" cried
Tom. "We have to remain here helpless and
watch him burn to death. It's awful !"
The three in the boat continued to gaze upward.
They could see the man making frantic efforts to
reach his parachute from time to time. Once, as
a little current of air blew the flames and smoke
to one side, he thought he had a chance. Up on
the trapeze bar he pulled himself and then edged
along it in an endeavor to grasp the ring of the
parachute. Once he almost had hold of that and
also the cord, which ran to a knife blade. This
cord, being pulled, would sever the rope that
bound it to the balloon, and he would be compara-
tively safe, so he might drop to the lake. But,
just as he was about to grasp the ring and cord,
the smoke came swirling down on him and the
hungry flames seemed to put out their fiery
182 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
tongues to devour him. He had to slide back and
once more hung by his hands.
"I thought he was saved then," whispered Tom,
and even the whisper sounded loud in the silence.
Several men came running along the shore of
the lake now. They saw the occupants in the
Arrow and cried out :
"Why don't you save him ? Go to his rescue !"
"What can we do?" asked Ned quietly of his
two friends, but he did not trouble to answer the
men on shore, who probably did not know what
they were saying.
The motor-boat had drifted from a spot under
the unfortunate balloonist, and at a word from
his father the young inventor started the engine
and steered the craft back directly under the blaz-
ing bag again.
"If he does drop, perhaps we may be able to
pick him up," said Mr. Swift "I wish we could
save him!"
A cry from Ned startled Tom and his father,
and their eyes, that had momentarily been directed
away from the burning bag high in the air, were
again turned toward it.
"The balloon is falling apart !" exclaimed Ned*
"It's all up with him now !"
Indeed it did seem so, for pieces of the burning
canvas, blazing and smoking, were falling in a
THE RESCUE 183
shower from the part of the bag already con-
sumed, and the fiery particles were fairly raining
down on the man. But he still had his wits about
him, though his perilous position was enough to
make any one lose his mind, and he swung from
side to side on the bar, shifting skilfully with his
hands and dodging the larger particles of blazing
canvas. When some small sparks fell on his
clothing he beat them out with one hand, while
with the other he clung to the trapeze.
There was scarcely any wind or the man's
plight might have been more bearable, for the
current of air would have carried the smoke and
fire to one side. As it was, most of the smoke and
flames went straight up, save now and,then* when
a draught created by the heat would swirl the
black clouds down on the performer, hiding him
from sight for a second or two. A breeze would
have carried the sparks away instead of letting
them fall on him.
Nearer and nearer to the surface of the lake
sank the balloon. By this time the crowd on the
bank had increased and there were excited opin-
ions as to what was best to do. But the trouble
was that little could be done. If the man could
hold out until he got near enough to the water to
let go he might yet be saved, but this would not
be for some time at the present rate the balloon
284 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
was falling. The performer realized this, and, as
the fire was getting hotter, he made another des-
perate attempt to reach the parachute. It was
unavailing and he had to drop back, hanging
below the slender bar.
Suddenly there came a puff of wind, fanning
the faces of those in the motor-boat, and they
looked intently to observe if there was any current
as high as was the balloonist. They saw the big
bag sway to one side and the flames broke out
more fiercely as they caught the draught The
balloon moved slowly down the lake.
"Keep after it, Tom!" urged his father. "We
may be able to save him !"
The lad increased the speed of his engine and
Ned, who was at the wheel, gave it a little twist
Then, with a suddenness that was startling, the
blazing canvas airship began to settle swiftly to-
ward the water. It had lost much of its buoyancy.
"Now he can jump ! He's near enough to tha
water now !" cried Tom.
But a new danger arose. True, the balloon was
rapidly approaching the surface of the lake and
in a few seconds more would be within such a
short distance that a leap would not be fatal. But
the burning bag was coming straight down and
scarcely would the man be in the water ere that
fiery canvas mass would be on top of him.
THE RESCUE 185
In such an event he would either be burned to
death or so held down that drowning must quickly
follow.
"If there was only wind enough to carry the
balloon beyond him after he jumped he could do
it safely!" cried Ned.
Tom said nothing. He was measuring, with
his eye, the distance the balloon had yet to go and
also the distance away the motor-boat was from
where it would probably land.
"He can do it !" exclaimed the young inventor.
"How?" asked his father.
For answer Tom caught up a newspaper he
had purchased at the hotel that morning. Rolling
it quickly into a cone, so that it formed a rough
megaphone, he put the smaller end to his mouth,
and, pointing the larger opening at the balloonist,
he called out :
"Drop into the lake ! We'll pick you up before
the bag falls on you ! Jump ! Let go now !"
The balloonist heard and understood. So did
Ned and Mr. Swift. Tom's quick wit had found
a way to save the man.
Faster and faster the blazing bag settled to-
ward the surface of the water. It was now merely
a mushroom-shaped piece of burning and smoking
canvas, yet it was supporting the man almost as
a parachute would have done.
186 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
With one look upward to the burning masa
above, him and a glance downward to the lake, the
aeronaut let go his hold. Like a shot he cams
down, holding his body rigid and straight as a
stick, for he knew how to fall into water, did thai
balloonist.
Tom Swift was ready for him. No sooner had
the lad called his directions through the mega-
phone than the young inventor had speeded up his
engine to the top notch.
"Steer so as to pick him up!" Tom cried to
Ned, who was at the wheel. "Pass by him on a
curve, and, as soon as I grab him, put the whee)
over so as to get out from under the balloon."
It was a risky thing to do, but our hero had it
all planned out. He made a loop of the boat's
painter, and, hurrying to the bow, leaned over as
far as he could, holding the rope in readiness.
His idea was to have the balloonist grab the
strands and be pulled out of danger by the speedy
motor-boat, for the blazing canvas would cover
such an extent of water that the man could not
have swum out of the danger zone in time.
Down shot the balloonist and down more slowl>
settled the collapsed bag, yet not so slowly that
there was any time to spare. It needed only a few
seconds to drop over the performer, to burn an<j
smother him.
THE RESCUE 187
Into the water splashed the man, disappearing
from sight as when a stick is dropped in, point
first. Ned was alert and steered the boat to the
side in which the man's face was, for he concluded
that the aeronaut would strike out in that direc-
tion when he came up. The Arrow was now di-
rectly under the blazing balloon and cries of feaf
from the watchers on shore urged upon Tom and
his companions the danger of their position. But
they had to take some risk to rescue the man.
'There he is !" cried Mr. Swift, who was on the
watch, leaning over the side of the boat. Tom and
Ned saw him at the same instant. Ned shifted
his wheel and the young inventor bent over, hold-
ing out the rope for the man to grasp. He saw it
and struck out toward the Arrow. But there was
no need for him to go far. An instant more and
the speeding motor-boat shot past him. He
grabbed the rope and Tom, aided by Mr. Swift,
began to lift him out of the water.
"Quick ! To one side, Ned !" yelled Tom, for
the heat of the descending mass of burning canvas
struck him like a furnace blast.
Ned needed no urging. With a swirl of the
screw the Arrow shot herself out of the way,
carrying the aeronaut with her. A moment later
the burning balloon, or what there was left of it,
188 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
settled down into the lake, hissing angrily as the
fire was quenched by the water and completely
covering the spot where, but a few seconds before,
the man had been swimming. He had been saved
in the nick of time.
CHAPTER XXIII
PLANS FOR AN AIRSHIP
"SLOW her down, Ned!" cried Tom, for the
Arrow was shooting so swiftly through the water
that the young inventor found it impossible to
pull up the balloonist. Ned hurried back to the
motor, and, when the boat's way had been
checked, it.was an easy matter to pull the dripping
and almost exhausted man into the craft.
"Are you much hurt?" asked Mr. Swift anx-
iously, for Tom was too much out of breath with
his exertion to ask any questions. For that matter
the man was in almost as bad a plight. He was
breathing heavily, as one who had run a long race.
"I— I guess I'm all right," he panted. "Only
burned a little on my hands. That-— that was a
close call !"
The boat swung around and headed for shore,
on which was quite a throng of persons. Some of
them had cheered when they saw the plucky
rescue.
"I'm afraid we can't save your balloon," gasped
189
190 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
Tom as he looked at the place where the canvas
was still floating and burning.
"No matter. It wasn't worth much. That's
the last time I'll ever go up in a hot-air balloon,"
said the man with more energy than he had before
exhibited. "I'm done with 'em. I've had my
lesson. Hereafter an aeroplane or a gas balloon
for mine. I only did this to oblige the fair com-
mittee. I'll not do it again."
The man spoke in short, crisp sentences, as
though he was in too much of a hurry to waste his
words.
"Let it sink," he went on. "It's no good. Glad
to see the last of it."
Almost as he spoke, with a final hiss and a cloud
of steam that mingled with the black smoke,- the
remains of the big bag sunk beneath the surface
of the lake.
"We must get you ashore at once and to a doc-
tor," said Mr. Swift. "You must be badly
burned."
"Not much. Only my hands, where some
turning pieces of canvas fell on 'em. If I had a
little oil to put on I'd be all right."
"I can fix you up better than that," put in Tom.
"I have some vaseline."
"Good ! Just the thing. Pass it over," and the
«nan, though he spoke shortly, seemed grateful fo?
PLANS FOR AN AIRSHIP 191
the offer. "My name's Sharp," he went on, "John
Sharp, of no place in particular, for I travel all
over. I'm a professional balloonist. Ha! that's
the stuff!"
This last was in reference to a bottle of vaseline
which Tom produced. Mr. Sharp spread some
over the backs of his hands and went on :
"That's better. Much obliged. I can't begin to
thank you for what you did for me — saved my
life. I thought it was all up with me — would have
been but for you. Mustn't mind my manner — it's
a way I have — have to talk quick when you're
balloonin' — no time — but I'm grateful all the
same. Who might you people be ?"
Tom told him their names and Mr. Swift asked
the aeronaut if he was sure he didn't need the ser-
vices of a physician.
"No doctor for me," answered the balloonist.
"I've been in lots of tight places, but this was the
worst squeeze. If ^ou'll put me ashore, I guess I
can manage now."
"But you're all wet," objected Tom. Where
will you go? You need some other clothes," fofc
the man wore a suit of tights and spangles.
"Oh, I'm used to this," went on the performer.
"I frequently have to fall in the water. I always
carry a little money with me so as to get back to
192 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
the place where I started from. By the way,
where am I ?"
"Opposite Daleton," answered Tom. "Where
did you go up from ?"
"Pratonia. Big fair there. I was one of the
•features."
"Then you're about fifteen miles away," com-
mented Mr. Swift. "You can hardly get back
before night. Must you go there ?"
"Left my clothes there. Also a valuable gas
balloon. No more hot-air ones for me. Guess
I'd better go back, and the aeronaut continued to
speak in his quick, jerky sentences.
"We'd be very glad to have you come with us,
Mr. Sharp," went on the inventor. "We are not
far from Shopton, and if you would like to remain
over night I'm sure we would make you com-
fortable. You can proceed to Pratonia in the
morning."
"Thanks. Might not be a bad idea," said Mr.
Sharp. "I'm obliged to you. I've got to go there
to collect my money, though I suppose they won't
give it all to me."
"Why not?" demanded Ned.
"Didn't drop from my parachute. Couldn't.
Fire was one reason — couldn't reach the para*
chute, and if I could have, guess it wouldn't have
been safe. Parachute probably was burned too*
PLANS FOR AN AIRSHIP 193
But I'm done with hot-air balloons, though I guess
I said that before."
The boys were much interested in the somewhat
odd performer, and, on his part, he seemed to take
quite a notion to Tom, who told him of several
things that he had invented.
"Well," remarked Mr. Swift after a while, dur-
ing which the boat had been moving slowly down
the lake, "if we are not to go ashore for a doctor
for you, Mr. Sharp, suppose we put on more
speed and get to my home ? I'm anxious about a
robbery that occurred there," and he related some
facts in the case.
"Speed her up !" exclaimed Mr. Sharp. "Wish
I could help you catch the scoundrels, but afraid
I can't — hands too sore," and he looked at his
burns. Then he told how he had made the ascen-
sion from the Pratonia fair grounds and how,
when he was high in the air, he had discovered
that the balloon was on fire. He described his
sensations and told how he thought his time had
surely come. Sparks from the hot air used to in-
flate it probably caused the blaze, he said.
"I've made a number of trips," he concluded,
"hot air and gas bags, but this was the worst ever.
It got on my nerves for a few minutes," he added
Coolly.
"I should think it would," agreed Tom as he
194 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
speeded up the motor and sent the Arrow on her
homeward way.
The boys and Mr. Swift were much interested
in the experiences of the balloonist and asked him
many questions, which he answered modestly.
Several hours passed and late that afternoon the
party approached Shopton.
"Here we are !" exclaimed Mr. Swift, relief in
his tones. "Now to see of what I have been
robbed and to get the police after the scoundrels !"
When the boat was nearing the dock Mr. Sharp,
who had been silent for some time, suddenly
turned to Tom and asked :
"Ever invent an airship?"
"No," replied the lad, somewhat surprised. "I
never did."
"I have," went on the balloonist. "That is, I've
invented part of it. I'm stuck over some details.
Maybe you and I'll finish it some day. How
about it?"
"Maybe," assented Tom, who was occupied just
then in making a good landing. "I am interested
in airships, but I never thought I could build one/'
"Easiest thing in the world," went on Mr.
Sharp, as if it was an everyday matter. "You and
I will get busy as soon as we clear up this rob-
bery." He talked as though he had been a friend
PLANS FOR AN AIRSHIP 195
of the family for some time, for he had a genial,
taking manner.
A little later Mr. Swift was excitedly question-
ing Garret Jackson concerning the robbery and
making an examination of the electrical shop to
discover what was missing.
"The've taken some parts of my gyroscope!"
he exclaimed, "and some valuable tools and
papers, as well as some unfinished work that will
be difficult to replace/'
"Much of a loss?" asked Mr. Sharp with a
business-like air.
"Well, not so large as regards money," an-
swered the inventor, "but they took things I can
never replace, and I will miss them very much if I
cannot get them back."
"Then we'll get 'em back!" snapped the bal-
loonist, as if that was all there was to it.
The police were called up on the telephone and
the facts given to them, as well as a description
of the stolen things. They promised to do what
they could, but, in the light of past experiences,
Tom and his father did not think this would be
much. There was little more that could be done
that evening. Ned Newton went to his home,
and, after Mr. Swift had insisted in calling in his
physician to look after Mr. Sharp's burns, the
196 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
balloonist was given a room next to Tom's. Then
the Swift household settled down.
"Well," remarked Tom to his father as he got
ready for bed, "this sure has been an exciting
toy."
"And my loss is a serious one," added the in-
ventor somewhat sadly.
"Don't worry, dad," begged his son. 'Til do
my best to recover those things for you."
Several days passed, but there was no clew to
the thieves. That they were the same ones who
had stolen the turbine model there was little doubt,
but they seemed to have covered their tracks well.
The police were at a loss, and, though Tom and
Mr. Sharp cruised about the lake, they could get
no trace of the men. The balloonist had sent to
Pratonia for his clothing and other baggage and
was now installed in the Swift home, where he
was invited to stay a week or two.
One night when he was looking over some
papers he had taken from his trunk the balloonist
came over to where Tom was making a drawing
i of a new machine he was planning and said :
"Like to see my idea for an airship ? Different
from some. It's a dirigible balloon with an aero-
plane front and rear to steer and balance it in big
winds. It would be a winner, only for one thing.
Maybe you can help me."
PLANS FOR AN AIRSHIP 197
"Maybe I can," agreed Tom, who was at once
interested.
"We ought to be able to do something. Look
at our names — Swift and Sharp — quick and pene-
trating— a good firm to build airships," and he
laughed genially. "Shall we do it ?"
"I'm willing," agreed Tom, and the balloonist
spread his plans out on the table, he and the young
inventor soon being deep in a discussion of them.
CHAPTER XXIV
THE MYSTERY SOLVED
FROM then on, for several days, the young in-
ventor and his new friend lived in an atmosphere
of airships. They talked them from morning until
night, and even Mr. Swift, much as he was exer-
cised over his loss, took part in the discussions.
In the meanwhile efforts had not ceased to lo-
cate the robbers and recover the stolen goods, but
so far without success.
One afternoon, about two weeks after the thrill-
ing rescue of John Sharp, Tom said to the bal-
loonist :
"Wouldn't you like to come for a ride in the
motor-boat? Maybe it will help us to solve the
puzzle of the airship. We'll take a trip across
and up the opposite shore."
"Good idea," commented Mr. Sharp. "Fine
day for a sail. Come on. Blow the cobwebs from
our brains."
Mr. Swift declined an invitation to accompany
198
THE MYSTERY SOLVED 199
them, as he said he would stay home and try to
straighten out his affairs, which were somewhat
muddled by the robbery.
Out over the blue waters of Lake Carlopa shot
the Arrow. It was making only moderate speed,
as Tom was in no hurry, and he knew his engine
would last longer if not forced too frequently.
They glided along, crossed the lake and were pro-
ceeding up the opposite shore when, as they turned
out from a little bay and rounded a point of land,
Mr. Sharp exclaimed :
"Look out, Tom, there's rowboat just ahead !"
"Oh, I'll pass well to one side of that," an-
swered the young inventor, looking at the craft.
As he did so, noting that there were four men in
it, one of the occupants caught a glimpse of the
Arrow. No sooner had he done so than he spoke
to his companions, and they all turned to stare at
Tom. At first the lad could scarcely believe his
eyes, but as he looked more intently he uttered a
cry.
"There they are!"
"Who?" inquired Mr. Sharp.
'Those men — the thieves! We must catch
them!"
Tom had spoken loudly, but even though the
men in the rowboat did hear what he said, they
would have realized without that that they were
200 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
about to be pursued, for there was no mistaking
the attitude of our hero.
Two of the thieves were at the oars, and, with
one accord, they at once increased their speed.
The boat swung about sharply and was headed for
the shore, which they seemed to have come from
only a short time previous, as the craft was not far
out in the lake.
"No, you don't!" cried Tom. "I see your
game! You want to get to the woods, where
you'll have a better chance to escape ! If this isn't
great luck, coming upon them this way !"
It was the work of but a moment to speed up
the engine and head the Arrow for the rowboat.
The men were pulling frantically, but they had no
chance.
"Get between them and the shore!" cried Mr.
Sharp. "You can head them off then."
This was good advice and Tom followed it.
The men, among whom the lad could recognize
Happy Harry and Anson Morse, were all excited.
Two of them stood up, as though to jump over-
board, but their companions called to them to stop.j
"If we only had a gun now, not to shoot at
them but to intimidate them," murmured the bal-
loonist, "maybe they'd stop."
"Here's one," answered Tom, pointing to the
seat locker, where he kept the shotgun Mr. Dun-
THE MYSTERY SOLVED 2OI
can had given him. In a moment Mr. Sharp had
it out.
"Surrender !" he cried, pointing the weapon at
the men in the small boat.
"Don't shoot! Don't fire on usi We'll give
up!" cried Happy Harry, and the two with the
oars ceased pulling.
"Don't take any chances," urged Mr. Sharp in
a low voice. "Keep between them and the shore.
I'll cover them." Tom was steering from an
auxiliary side wheel near the motor, and soon the
Arrow had cut off the retreat of the men. They
could not land and to row across the lake meant
speedy capture.
"Well, what do you want of us?" growled
Morse. "What right have you got to interfere
with us in this fashion ?"
"The best of right," answered Tom. "You'll
find out when you're landed in jail."
"You can't arrest us!" sneered Happy Harry.
"You're not an officer and you haven't any war-
rant."
Tom hadn't thought of that, and his chagrin
showed in his face. Happy Harry was quick to
see it.
"You'd better let us go," he threatened. "We
can have you arrested for bothering us. You
haven't any right to stop us, Tom Swift"
202 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
"Maybe he hasn't, but I have!" exclaimed John
Sharp suddenly.
"You ! Who are you ?" demanded Featherton,
alias Simpson, the man who had run the auto-
mobile that carried Tom away.
"Me. I'm a special deputy sheriff for this
county/' answered the balloonist simply. "Here's
my badge," and, throwing back his coat, he dis-
played it. "You see I got the appointment in or-
der to have some authority in the crowds that
gather to watch me go up," he explained to Tom,
who plainly showed his astonishment. "I found
it very useful to be able to threaten arrest, but in
this case I'll do more than threaten. You are my
prisoners," he went on to the men in the boat, and
he handled the shotgun as if he knew how to use
it. "I'll take you into custody on complaint of
Mr. Swift for robbery. Now will you go quietly
or are you going to make a fuss ?" and Mr. Sharp
shut his jaw grimly.
"Well, seeing as how you have the drop on us,
I guess we'll have to do as you say," admitted
Happy Harry, alias Jim Burke. "But you can't
prove anything against us. We haven't any ot
Mr. Swift's property."
"Well, you know where it is then," retorted
Tom quickly.
Under the restraining influence of the gun the
THE MYSTERY SOLVED 203
men made no resistance. While Mr. Sharp cov-
ered them, Tom towed their boat toward shore.
Then, while the young inventor held the gun, the
balloonist tied the hands and feet of the thieves in
a most scientific manner, for what he did not
know about ropes and knots was not worth putting
into a book.
"Now, I guess they'll stay quiet for a while,"
remarked Mr. Sharp as he surveyed the crestfallen
criminals. "I'll remain on guard here, Tom,
while you go notify the nearest constable and we'll
take them to jail. We bagged the whole lot as
neatly as could be desired."
"No, you didn't get all of us!" exclaimed
Happy Harry, and there was a savage anger in
his tones.
"Keep quiet !" urged Morse.
"No, I'll not keep quiet ! It's a shame that we
have to take our medicine while that trimmer, Tod
Boreck, goes free. He ought to have been with
us, and he would be, only he's trying to get away
with that sparkler !"
"Keep quiet," again urged Morse.
Tom was all attention. He had caught the
word "sparkler," and he at once associated it with
the occasion he had heard the men use it before.
He felt that he was on the track of solving the
mystery connected with his boat.
204 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
He looked at the men. They were the same
four who had been involved in the former theft —
Appleson, Featherton, Morse and Burke. Were
there five of them ? He recalled the man who had
been caught tampering with his boat — the man
who had tried to bid on the Arrow at the auction.
Where was he ?
"Boreck didn't get what he was after," resumed
Happy Harry, "and I'm going to spoil his game
for him. Say, kid," he went on to Tom, "look in
the front part of your boat — where the gasoline
tank is."
Tom felt his heart beating fast. At last he felt
that he would solve the puzzle. He opened the
forward compartment. To his disappointment it
seemed as usual. Morse and the others were
making a vain effort to silence Happy Harry.
"I don't see anything here," said Tom.
"No, because it's hidden in one of those blocks
of wood you use for a brace," continued the man.
"Which one it is, Boreck didn't know, so he pulled
out two or three, only to be fooled each time. You
must have shifted them, kid, from the way they
were when we had the boat."
"I did," answered the young inventor, recollect-
ing how he had taken out some of the braces and
inserted new ones, then painted the interior of the
compartment. "What is in the braces, anyhow?"
THE MYSTERY SOLVED 2O$
"The sparkler — a big diamond — in a hollow
place in the wood, kid !" exclaimed Happy Harry,
blurting out the words. "I'm not going to let Tod
Boreck get away with it while we stay in jail."
"Take out all the braces that haven't been
moved and have a look," suggested Mr. Sharp.
Tom only had to remove two, those farthest back,
for all the others had, at one time or another, been
changed or taken away by the thief.
One of the blocks did not seem to have anything
unusual about it, but at the sight of the other Tom
could not repress a cry. It was the one that seemed
to have had a hole bored in it and then plugged up
again. He remembered his father noticing it on
the occasion of overhauling the boat.
"The sparkler's in there," said the tramp as he
saw the brace. "Boreck was after it several times,
but he never pulled out the right one."
With his knife Tom dug out the putty that
covered the round hole in the block. No sooner
had he done so than there rolled out into his hand
a white object. It was something done up in
tissue paper, and as he removed the wrapper, then
was a flash in the sunlight and a large, beautiful
diamond was revealed. The mystery had been
solved.
CHAPTER XXV
WINNING A RACE
"WHERE did this diamond come from?" de-
manded Mr. Sharp of the quartette of criminals.
"That's for us to know and you to find out,"
sneered Happy Harry. "I don't care as long as
that trimmer Boreck didn't get it. He tried to
do us out of our share."
"Well, I guess the police will make you tell,"
went on the balloonist. "Go for the constable,
Tom."
Leaving his friend to guard the ugly men, who.
for a time at least, were beyond the possibility of
doing harm, Tom hurried off through the woods
to the nearest village. There he found an officer
and the gang was soon lodged in jail. The dia-
mond was turned over to the authorities, who said
they would soon locate the owner.
Nor were they long in doing it, for it appeared
the gem was part of a large jewel robbery that had
taken place some time before in a distant city.
The Happy Harry gang, as the men came to be
206
WINNING A RACE 2O?
called, were implicated in it, though they got only
a small share of the plunder. Search was made
for Tod Boreck and he was captured about a week
after his companions. Seeing that their game was
up, the men made a partial confession, telling
where Mr. Swift's goods had been secreted, and
the inventor's valuable tools^ papers and machin*
ery were recovered, no damage having been done
to them.
It developed that after the diamond theft, and
when the gang still had possession of Mr. Hast-
ings' boat, Boreck, sometimes called Murdock by
his cronies, unknown to them, had secreted the
jewel in one of the braces under the gasoline tank.
He expected to get it out secretly, but the capture
of the gang and the sale of the boat prevented
this. Then he tried to buy the craft to take out
the diamond, but Tom overbid him. It was
Boreck who found Andy's bunch of keys and used
one to open the compartment lock when Tom sur-
prised him. The man did manage to remove some
of the blocks, thinking he had the one with the
diamond in it, but the fact of Tom changing them
and painting the compartment deceived him. The
gang hoped to get some valuables from Mr.
Swift's shops, and, to a certain extent, succeeded
after hanging around for several nights and fol-
lowing him to Sandport, but Tom eventually
208 TOM SWIFT 'AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
proved too much for them. Even stealing the Ar-
row, which was taken to aid the gang in robbing
Mr. Swift, did not succeed, and Boreck's plan then
to get possession of the diamond fell through.
It was thought that the gang would get long
terms in prison, but one night, during a violent
storm, they escaped from the local jail and that
was the last seen of them for some time.
A few days after the capture as Tom was in
the boathouse making some minor repairs to the
motor he heard a voice calling :
"Mistah Swift, am yo' about?"
"Hello, Rad, is that you ?" he inquired, recog-
nizing the voice of the colored owner of the mule
Boomerang.
"Yais, sa, dat's me. I got a lettah fo' yo'. I
were passing' de post-office an' de clerk asted me
to brung it to you' 'case as how it's marked
'hurry,' an' he said he hadn't seen yo' to-day."
"That's right. I've been so busy I haven't had
time to go for the mail," and Tom took the letter,
giving Eradicate ten cents for his trouble.
"Ha, that's good!" exclaimed Tom as he
read it.
"Hab some one done gone an' left yo' a fortune,
Mistah Swift?" asked the negro.
"No, but it's almost as good. It's an invitation
WINNING A RACE 209
to take part in the motor-boat races next week.
I'd forgotten all about them. I must get ready."
"Good land! Dat's all de risin* generation
t'inks about now," observed Eradicate, "racin'
an* goin' fast. Mah ole mule Boomerang am
good enough fo' me/' and, shaking his head in a
woeful manner, Eradicate went on his way.
Tom told Mr. Sharp and his father of the pro-
posed races of the Lanton Motor-Boat Club, and,
as it was required that two persons be in a craft
the size of the Arrow, the young inventor ar-
ranged for the balloonist to accompany him. Our
hero spent the next few days in tuning up his
motor and in getting the Arrow ready for the
contest
The races took place on that side of Lake Car-
lopa near where Mr. Hastings lived, and he was
one of the officials of the club. There were several
classes, graded according to the horse-power of
the motors, and Tom found himself in a class with
Andy Foger.
"Here's where I beat you," boasted the red-
haired youth exultantly, though his manner to-
ward Tom was more temperate than usual. And)
had learned a lesson.
"Well, if you can beat me I'll give you credit for
it," answered Tom.
The first race was for high-powered craft, and
210 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
in this Mr. Hastings' new Carlopa won. Their
came the trial of the small boats, and Tom was
pleased to note that Miss Nestor was on hand in
the tiny Dot.
"Good luck !" he called to her as he was adjust*
ing his timer, for his turn would come soon. "Re-
member what I told you about the spark," for he
had given her a few lessons.
"If I win it will be due to you," she called
brightly.
She did win, coming in ahead of several con-
fident lads who had better boats. But Miss Nestor
handled the Dot to perfection and crossed the line
a boat's length ahead of her nearest competitor.
"Fine !" cried Tom, and then came the warning
gun that told him to get ready for his trial.
This was a five-mile race and had several en-
trants. The affair was a handicap one and Tom
had no reason to complain of the rating allowed
him.
"Crack!" went the starting pistol and away
went Tom and one or two others who had the
same allowance as did he. A little later the others
started and finally the last class, including Andy
Foger. The Red Streak shot ahead and was soon
in the lead, for Andy and Sam had learned better
how to handle their craft. Tom and Mr. Sharp
were worried, but they stuck grimly to the race
WINNING A RACE 211
and when the turning stake was reached Tom's
motor had so warmed up and was running so well
that he crept up on Andy. A mile from the final
mark Andy and Tom were on even terms, and
though the red-haired lad tried to shake off his
rival he could not. Andy's ignition system failed
him several times and he changed from batteries to
magneto and back again in the hope of getting a
little more speed out of the motor.
But it was not to be. A half mile away from
the finish Tom, who had fallen behind a little,
crept up on even terms. Then he slowly forged
ahead, and, a hundred rods from the stake, the
young inventor knew that the race was his. He
clinched it a few minutes later, crossing the line
amid a burst of cheers. The Arrow had beaten
several boats out of her own class and Tom was
v*>ry proud and happy.
"My, but we certainly did scoot along some!"
cried Mr. Sharp. "But that's nothing to how we'll
go when we build our airship, eh, Tom ?" and he
looked at the flushed face of the lad.
"No, indeed," agreed the young inventor. "But
I don't know that we'll take part in any races in it.
We'll build it, however, as soon as we can solve
that one difficulty."
They did solve it, as will be told in the next
book of this series, to be called "Tom Swift and
212 TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT
His Airship; or, The Stirring Cruise of the Red
Cloud!' They had some remarkable adventures
in the wonderful craft, and solved the mystery of
a great bank robbery.
This ended the contests of the motor-boats and
the little fleet crowded up to the floats and docks,
where the prizes were to be awarded. Tom re-
ceived a handsome silver cup and Miss Nestor a
gold bracelet.
"Now I want all the contestants, winners and
losers, to come up to my house and have lunch,"
invited Mr. Hastings.
As Tom and the balloonist strolled up the walk
to the handsome house Andy Foger passed them.
"You wouldn't have beaten me if my spark coil
hadn't gone back on me," he said, somewhat
sneeringly.
"Maybe," admitted Tom, and just then be
caught sight of Mary Nestor. "May I take you
in to lunch ?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, "because you helped me to
win," and she blushed prettily. And then they all
sat down to the tables set out on the lawn, while
Tom looked so often at Mary Nestor that Mr.
Sharp said afterward it was a wonder he found
time to eat. But Tom didn't care. He was happy.
THE END
THE DON STURDY SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations bj
WALTER S. ROGERS
Every Volume Complete in Itself.
In company with his uncles, one a mighty hunter and
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A great polar blizzard nearly wrecks the airship of the
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THE RADIO BOYS AT OCEAN POINT
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THE RIDDLE CLUB AT HOME
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This volume tells how the club journeyed to the seashore ana
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wicked Wolf stole the Magic Button and how the wolves plotted to eat up
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THE FLYAWAYS AND GOLDILOCKS
The Flyaway* wanted to see not only Goldilocks but also the Three
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even rode on a Rocket and met the monstrous Blue Frog. When they
arrived at Goldilock's house they found that the Three Bears had been there
before them and mussed everything up, much to Goldilock's despair. " We
must drive those bears out of the country ! " said Pa Flyaway, Then they
journeyed underground to the Yellow Palace, and oh ! so many things hap-
pened olid 'that I
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BY LEO EDWARDS
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